Cognitive and behavioral changes are common among adolescents and scientists have conducted numerous studies to understand the neurological changes that make them act the way they do (Odgers & Jensen, 2020). Research conducted in the early 21st century indicates that the first three years of development were instrumental in the learning and behavioral modification of human beings (Verhoeven et al., 2019). This remained true until recently when neurological studies of the teenage brain brought forth new and exciting information. Teenagers experience mood changes, risk-taking, lack of interest, or the feeling of being less recognized in their puberty phase. How these changes are handled determines the future behavior and cognition of the teenagers in the adulthood phase.
The documentary Inside the Teenage Brain by Frontline (2002), demonstrates the work of scientists and their findings on why adolescents behave the way they do. The findings are crucial in the determination of the adjustments needed during parenting to ensure that teenagers transition to responsible adults. The documentary indicates that during puberty, two key parts undergo numerous changes, the prefrontal cortex of the brain and the cerebellum. These changes are usually quite rapid and dramatic and can are associated with hormonal and resultant behavioral as well as cognitive changes.
Another concept investigated by the documentary is deprivation of sleep among adolescents. Sleep deprivation is as a result of increased distractions and changes in the circadian cycle. The result of this is a negative impact on the ability of adolescents to learn new things and retain new material. The documentary concludes that the key to better cognition and behavioral development of teenagers is the development of good relationships between parents and their children as well as good sleep (more than 7.5 hours). Parents should spend more time with their children while ensuring that they (teenagers) understand the changes they are undergoing. This essay discusses my opinion concerning the documentary about the changes of teenagers and the needs of these teenagers to ensure that their transition is smooth resulting in successful adulthood.
The adolescent phase usually involves a significant physiological and psychological change in teenagers. It is at this phase that they start discovering new concepts and desire to learn everything. This is also a stage where the environment plays a significant role in modeling their characters. Neurons that get fully activated and continuously get fired end up mastering the learned skills and they take up that knowledge to their adulthood phase (Odgers & Jensen, 2020). As much as schools already exist to ensure that children get the desired knowledge, the schooling system is not well set up to counter the changes and the needs of these children. The majority of the schooling systems still utilize olden orthodoxy methods despite the recent scientific studies.
The neurological changes occurring in teenagers are inevitable but necessary for their growth and development. However, as stated by the documentary, it is a vital phase that requires guidance, communication, and attention. This falls back to the need of parents and the community at large to acquire and master parental skills as well as incorporate programs that have a positive impact on teenagers. The documentary insists on the need for parental involvement in positive modification. Furthermore, it indicates the need for modification of the school systems to ensure that activities are incorporated and the start time for classes factor in the change of the teenage circadian system. However, the documentary fails to mention the need for community involvement through the development of programs that ensure youths harness desirable skills. According to Onifade et al (2019), communal programs like sporting activities, scouting, church events and artistic completionare necessary in modeling teenagers’ behavior and cognition. Furthermore, the communal programs should involve the participation of parents to enhance communication and relationship development.
The documentary addresses distractions e.g., video games and loitering around as key contributors to sleep deprivation of teenagers. It does not address how these distractions can be eliminated considering the impact they have on brain development. The critical step to reduce this is by making them understand the impact of sleep deprivation on other cognitive development and the key contributors of the deprivation. Understanding these concepts allows them to realize the need for rules and regulations required in ensuring that they get enough sleep. Some of the techniques to ensure that their sleep deprivation is reduced includes reducing screen time at night, preventing caffeinated drinks and edibles before sleep, recommending shower before sleep, working with them to make quiet bedrooms among others (Seton & Fitzgerald, 2021). These techniques should are effective when presented in a less aggressive manner with full awareness of the relevance by teenagers.
The modern world has become so stressful and demanding that parents have to take in more tasks working late and leaving early to ensure they make ends meet. This has resulted in their ability to ignore the attention desired by teenagers hence expecting them to understand the problems and act like adults. However, the majority of the parents do not understand the impact they have on their children’s development. Other than financial issues, other family problems e.g., divorce and domestic violence negatively impact the cognition and behavioral changes of teenagers. This has contributed to the increased cases of juvenile delinquency around the globe.
The documentary does not address the family issues that contribute to the modification of the teenage brain. It is documented that teenagers who experienced family issues from birth to about age 11 tend to have smaller cerebellum and have a high likelihood of developing psychiatric illnesses (Pollok et al., 2022). It is, therefore, necessary for the government and other relevant authorities as well as non-governmental organizations to develop schemes that will increase parental and communal awareness of the need to ensure good relationships are developed between parents and their children. Additionally, programs like parent-child counseling and activities should be established to further help in communication, understanding, and building of strengthening of relationships.
The documentary indicates how hardwiring of neurological cells in the brain of teenagers is determined by what they do during this phase. Like or dislike of certain activities is dependent on what they are subjected to during their childhood phase. The hardwiring is only further strengthened by the brain development that occurs at this phase. The documentary further states that brain development in the first three years of growth is also fast-paced and critical in child development. This means if parents start by subjecting the kids to desired practices and activities at an early age, they will embrace them and make them part of their daily routine (Yaffe, 2020). Parents will only need to do follow-up activities to ensure that they stick to their regular practice in the adolescent phase.
As demonstrated by scientific research, the cognitive and behavioral development of teenagers is a result of neurological changes occurring in their brains. These changes can be well aligned by ensuring that parents and members of the community develop good relationships with teenagers and accord them the necessary attention. Additionally, the modern world is highly destructive and contributes to the increased sleep deprivation that impacts the learning and skill development of teenagers. It is therefore important for parents to incorporate evidence-based strategies to help reduce the sleep deprivation issue. Additionally, parental awareness of the importance of creating strong relationships should be made. I support the thesis of the film on physiological changes occurring in the teenage brain and the need for parental and communal involvement. However, there is need for incorporation of more evidence-based interventions in the management and alignment of teenage thoughts and practices.
References
Frontline. (2002). Inside the Teenage Brain. Pbs. Web.
Odgers, C. L., & Jensen, M. R. (2020). Annual research review: Adolescent mental health in the digital age: Facts, fears, and future directions. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 61(3), 336–348. Web.
Onifade, E., Barnes, A., Campbell, C., & Mandalari, A. (2019). Risk assessment as a mechanism for reducing differential treatment of minorities by a juvenile justice system. Journal of Ethnicity in Criminal Justice, 17(3), 203– 227. Web.
Pollok, T. M., Kaiser, A., Kraaijenvanger, E. J., Monninger, M., Brandeis, D., Banaschewski, T., Eickhoff, S. B., & Holz, N. E. (2022). Neurostructural Traces of Early Life Adversities: A Meta-Analysis Exploring Age-and Adversity-specific Effects. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 135, 104589. Web.
Seton, C., & Fitzgerald, D. A. (2021). Chronic sleep deprivation in teenagers: Practical ways to help. Paediatric Respiratory Reviews, 40, 73–79.
Verhoeven, M., van Baar, A. L., & Deković, M. (2019). Parenting toddlers. In Handbook of parenting: Children and parenting, Vol. 1, 3rd ed (pp. 56–80). Routledge/Taylor & Francis Group. Web.
Yaffe, Y. (2020). Parental authority: A contemporary integrative-theoretical conceptualization. A Closer Look at Parenting Styles and Practices, 73–96.