Understanding the Teenage Brain

A teenager's brain is still under construction. The part that handles impulses and planning ahead won't finish maturing until their mid-20s, while the part that reacts with instant emotion is already running at full power. That imbalance explains a lot, from sudden outbursts to morning lie-ins that aren't really laziness.

This course turns the science into things you can do. Listen without rushing to fix, and stay calm rather than trying to win the argument. Agree bedtimes together, knowing that the sleep hormone melatonin arrives later in teenagers. Offer risks that are exciting but safe, like climbing or the school play, and help them rehearse a face-saving way to turn down a cigarette or a drink.

There's a breathing exercise to share at bedtime, too, and a nudge to remember what you'd have wanted from the adults around you at 15.