Video: Inside the Teenage Brain Cayla SandlinEDUC 121 Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana
2 Inside the Teenage Brain The first scene in the video, Inside the Teenage Brain, Mr. and Mrs. ODonnell are trying to wake up their teenage son, Charlie, for school. Charlie shouts at his mother and father, saying that he is not yet ready to wake up. During my teenage years, I dont remember having a hard time getting up, but I remember I was sometimes rude or short-tempered towards my parents. I observe Charlie being rude to his parents throughout the clip of him getting ready for school and eating breakfast. During the interview, Charlie mentions that he thinks his parents are uncool. I think this is a common feeling teenagers have towards their parents. Teenagers are still developing and they are lacking to behavioral development of the brain since the front part of the brain is not developed yet. Parents are constantly on their teenagers, which is just irritating teenagers. Like infants, teenagers are going through a rapid growth development in the brain. I think, generally, studying brain development is amazing anyway. After watching this video, I have a better understanding of the human brain and the process in which it develops. I found it really interesting that the brain goes through another major grow spurt right before pubertyjust like the growth spurt that infants go through. During the early teenage years, it is important for teens to use these cells during pruning to ensure they get developed. If the teenager is playing sports or instrumentsdoing productive things with the brainit will help in positive usage and development of the cells. However, if a teenager is not using these cells productively, like sitting on the couch, watching television, they will lose those cells because they are not being stimulated properly. I remember being a moody teenager like Brittany. I never yelled at my parents, but I remember being short-tempered. During the video, Brittany and her brother have a huge, shouting outburst. I really loved how their mother did not intervene. Brittanys mother thoroughly understands that teenage mood swings are a part of teenage development and that the 3 Inside the Teenage Brain part of the brain that helps control mood swings is not yet developed in her daughter. I think that teenage mood swings dealt with in a patient and loving manner. Shouting back at the teenager will not help the situationBrittanys mother did not shout back. If the teenager is doing something wrong, instead of prying at the mood swing or making it worse, a parent or teacher needs to softly speak to them and explain the consequence in a polite manner. Teenagers a still developingthey are still children; parents need to understand that. During my teenage years, my mother and I constantly fought. My younger brother and my father were annoyed with how much we argued. Most of our arguments were due to my rolling my eyes or making an ugly face. Most of the time, I didnt know I was making a face at my mother. Our conflicts usually began because I wasnt finished doing my hair, or I would rather have been with my friends but my parents were making me go somewhere with them. I felt like my mom and dad didnt understand me. This portion of the video touches on parents and teenagers not understanding each other. The cerebellum is not yet developed during the teenage years. Because of this, the social aspect is shakyhence the reason teens and parents argue. The process of speaking smoothly and calmly isnt smoothed out yet. I dont remember being much of a sleeper during my teenage years. WaitI take that back. I do remember falling asleep a couple times during high school in some classes. I played softball, had a boyfriend, and friends that I wanted to hang out with, so I am sure that I didnt get the recommended 9 hours of sleep like the researches in the video suggest. I dont remember having a hard time waking up for school; I just remember needing naps during class. I passed all of my classes that I slept in; probably because I fell asleep during classes that I excelled in or got my work done early in. The researchers say that no matter what teenagers are learning or where they are learning, it all depends on their amount of sleep. Two students were tested on REM 4 Inside the Teenage Brain sleep, Charlie and Nikki. Nikki slept very well, whereas Charlie didnt. Nikki had better test scores and even improved her skills. Charlie, lacking in REM sleep, suffered in test scores while Nikki moved ahead. This proves that we are learning while we sleep and that REM sleep is important. Prior to watching this video and reading the article for last class session What Makes Teens Tick, has really taught me that it is important to have patience with teenagers. Teenagers are still learning and developing, just like little kids. People and connections that are in their lives make that they are and give them the comfort they need. No matter how moody a teen is, parents and teachers still need to be there for teenagers. Teenagers secretively want love and affection from their parents and teachers. From my teenage experience, I pulled away just a little from my parentsI wanted to be with my friends. But once I reached my early twenties, I enjoy being with my parents. These days, my mom is the first person I call for major situations or just to go shopping. Charlie, in the video, says that he is ready to go to college and to live in a dorm with no rules, however, all the other teens in the video admit that they love their moms, trusts their moms, and go to them for most advice. For now on, I know that I need to just be calm and respectful with teenagers, keep my cool when they have an attitude, and I need to understand that their mood swing will go away.