Information about the teenage brain

During puberty, your child’s body produces hormones. These substances ensure that your child’s body matures. Your child grows taller and heavier, and the body begins to change. The brain also grows, but not all parts of the brain grow at the same rate. As a result, your child’s behavior changes. One child becomes difficult or even unmanageable, while another is hardly affected. When puberty begins and how it progresses differs from child to child.

The part of the brain that regulates your emotions grows quickly—faster than the part that enables you to make sensible decisions. Your teenager may therefore react emotionally very quickly. Thinking sensibly is still difficult. As a result, the likelihood of taking risks is high, such as drinking too much or trying a cigarette. Only when both parts of the brain have grown sufficiently will your child regain balance.

It is important that the brain develops properly. Substance use can affect brain development. The teenage brain reacts differently to alcohol and smoking than an adult brain. The younger you start drinking alcohol or smoking, the greater the chance that you will become addicted to it later in life.

Tips

The e-zine contains some clear tips:

  • Set clear rules and boundaries, including NIX18: no alcohol and
    no smoking before the age of 18. Your child needs rules while they are not yet always able to think sensibly for themselves. Help your child understand the purpose of the rules.
  • Provide safety, structure, and guidance. The changes during puberty are confusing for your child. Let go where you can and provide structure where necessary, including clear agreements about NIX18. As a parent, engage in conversation with your child.
  • Be consistent and clear. This way, your child knows what to expect.
  • Be understanding and patient. Try to understand your child’s difficult phase so that you can get through it together.
  • Reward good behavior. Teenagers are not very responsive to punishment or negative feedback.
  • Encourage interests and talents. Puberty is the time to encourage your child to discover their talents.
  • Make time for your child. Exercise, cycle, play games, or do something else fun together. The more time you spend with your child, the less inclined they will be to engage in risky behavior.
  • Set a good example: Seeing someone smoke makes you want to smoke, and seeing someone drink makes you want to drink.

Other e-zine content

  • Regional figures
  • ‘Good conversation’ with your teenager
  • A NIX party
  • Useful links

Click here for the e-zine. Click here for the regional online parent meeting.