What name is given to the new stage of development evidence shows is forming after adolescence?
Show
Teenage brain development: the basicsChildren’s brains have a massive growth spurt when they’re very young. By the time they’re six, their brains are already about 90-95% of adult size. The early years are a critical time for brain development, but the brain still needs a lot of remodelling before it can function as an adult brain. This brain remodelling happens intensively during adolescence, continuing until your child is in their mid-20s. Brain change depends on age, experience and hormonal changes in puberty. Inside the teenage brainAdolescence is a time of significant growth and development inside the teenage brain. The main change is that unused connections in the thinking and processing part of your child’s brain (called the grey matter) are ‘pruned’ away. At the same time, other connections are strengthened. This is the brain’s way of becoming more efficient, based on the ‘use it or lose it’ principle. This pruning process begins in the back of the brain. The front part of the brain, the prefrontal cortex, is remodelled last. The prefrontal cortex is the decision-making part of the brain, responsible for your child’s ability to plan and think about the consequences of actions, solve problems and control impulses. Changes in this part of the brain continue into early adulthood. Because the prefrontal cortex is still developing, teenagers might rely on a part of the brain called the amygdala to make decisions and solve problems more than adults do. The amygdala is associated with emotions, impulses, aggression and instinctive behaviour. Have you noticed that sometimes your child’s thinking and behaviour seems quite mature, but at other times your child seems to behave or think in illogical, impulsive or emotional ways? The back-to-front development of the brain explains these shifts and changes – teenagers are working with brains that are still under construction. Building a healthy teenage brainThe combination of your child’s unique brain and environment influences the way your child acts, thinks and feels. For example, your child’s preferred activities and skills might become ‘hard-wired’ in the brain. How teenagers spend their time is crucial to brain development. So it’s worth thinking about the range of activities and experiences your child is into – music, sports, study, languages, video games. How are these shaping the sort of brain your child will take into adulthood? You're an important part of your child’s environment. You mean a lot to your child. How you guide and influence your child will be important in helping your child to build a healthy brain too. You can do this by:
Behaviour strategies for teenage brain developmentWhile your child’s brain is developing, your child might:
Here are some tips for encouraging good behaviour and strengthening positive brain connections:
Teenagers are often passionate about their interests, especially ones that give them opportunities to socialise. You can help your child develop skills and confidence by supporting your child’s interests, activities and hobbies. Thinking strategies for teenage brain developmentBrain growth and development during these years means that your child will start to:
You can support the development of your child’s thinking with the following strategies:
Sleep and teenage brain developmentDuring adolescence, sleep patterns change because of hormonal changes in the brain. But children still need plenty of sleep for their overall health and development, including their brain development. These tips can help your child get they sleep they need:
What are the stages of development in adolescence?There are three primary developmental stages of adolescence:. Early adolescence (10 to 13 years) Puberty begins in this stage. ... . Middle adolescence (14 to 17 years) Puberty changes for both males and females continue. ... . Late adolescence/young adulthood (18 to 21 years and beyond). What is Erikson's stage of development for adolescence?Identity versus role confusion is the fifth stage of ego in psychologist Erik Erikson's theory of psychosocial development. This stage occurs during adolescence between the ages of approximately 12 and 18. During this stage, adolescents explore their independence and develop a sense of self.
What is the transition stage from childhood to adolescence?Puberty marks the transition from childhood to adolescence and yet despite the clearly established increased risk for the onset of health problems related to behaviour and emotional control during this transition [2], there is limited previous research, which has been hindered by a number of important methodological ...
What are the 5 stages of human development?Introduction. Infancy (neonate and up to one year age). Toddler ( one to five years of age). Childhood (three to eleven years old) - early childhood is from three to eight years old, and middle childhood is from nine to eleven years old.. Adolescence or teenage (from 12 to 18 years old). Adulthood.. |