The document discusses 10 things parents should know about adolescence according to Nicola Morgan. Adolescence is a natural developmental stage driven by biology, not modern phenomena. Its aim is separation which explains conflicts as teenagers' prefrontal cortex, responsible for reasoning and impulse control, develops last until their mid-twenties. This causes strong emotions to override logic. Teenagers experience different stresses than adults and are highly susceptible to distraction from technology. While social media is appealing, it prevents deep work. Resilience relies on facing difficulties rather than overprotection. Daily relaxation is important for performance as stress damages focus and mood. Pleasure reading provides multiple benefits for teenagers.

1. Understanding teenagers
and wellbeing
with Nicola Morgan
Up-to-date science, classroom materials, advice,
books and more: www.nicolamorgan.com

2. www.nicolamorgan.com
•Today’s blogpost on my website:
•Handouts, free downloads, links
•Books:

3. Ten Things I’d Like Parents to Know
About Adolescence

4. 1. It is not a modern phenomenon
It’s a natural, biologically driven,
universal, necessary and positive
developmental stage

5. 2. The aim is separation
Explains conflict, change
and the power of peer pressure

6. 3. The prefrontal cortex develops last
And isn’t fully developed until
the mid-twenties – sorry!

7. Prefrontal cortex vs limbic system
Prefrontal cortex (pfc):
• Control: reason, logic, prediction, analysis, impulse control,
moral values, decisions
Limbic system (including amygdala):
• Emotions + instinct:
Reactive, impulsive, motivating
Amygdala
PFC

8.  Consequences 
Strong amygdala/limbic system
vs weak prefrontal cortex
•Affects emotions:
• volatility and control
•Impulse control
•Empathy
•And risk-taking

10. Double whammy of sleep change:
• Greater sleep need
• Adolescent “body clock” acts differently:
• Switches melatonin ON later at night
• But switches it OFF later in the morning
• Lots of advice on my website

11. 5. Teenage stress has significant differences

12. They have some different stressors
•Perfect storm of change
•A regular schoolday is a catalogue of stress: pressure
to concentrate/perform + friendship/peer group
issues + self-consciousness

13. And “new” stresses
1. Exams: higher pressure, frequency + stakes
2. Internet and social media:
• Highly appealing/addictive
• Pressure to conform with tribe – “FOMO”
• Biological drive to share personal info  risk
• Distraction: “Continual partial attention” (more later)

14. The downsides of stress are the same
1. Cortisol build-up: sleep, mood, immune system,
control (words+actions), focus, performance
2. “Preoccupation”
• Think about brain “bandwidth”: every thought/action
requires bandwidth
• Teenagers very vulnerable: intrusive, negative thoughts

15. 6. Teenagers are no better at multi-tasking
than we are
• If part of focus is elsewhere, cannot perform 100%
• (But certain non-cognitive tasks can be done together)
• We do not improve at multi-tasking
• Those who practise distraction most are most
distractible
• Attempting to multi-task causes cognitive stress/cost
The Organized Mind by Daniel Levitin

16. 7. So social media a two-fold
problem for teenagers
1. Biologically drawn to social media through peer pressure
2. Yet prevented from doing best work as continually
distracted
• Educate; strategies; modelling; motivation – “Self-control”

17. 8. Resilience is damaged by over-protection
•Resilience: ability to bounce back
•Must face and discuss scary, difficult things
•Must learn that we can control own growth – praise
effort more than talent
•Must learn to bounce back after failure – make
failures feel small and temporary
•Be a safety-net parent, not a helicopter parent

18. 9. They know a lot about a lot but…
Very little about a lot of other things!

19. Daily relaxation is not luxury:
it helps performance
1. Instant breathing/relaxation technique – my website
2. Daily “downtime” – different, varied and deliberate
3. Perspective – “This too shall pass”; “You are not
alone”; “Talk” – and emotions are normal + healthy

20. 10. Teenagers who read daily for pleasure…
•Do better at school and afterwards
•Have higher self-esteem
•Understand themselves and others better
•Have greater knowledge and vocabulary
•Have a perfect strategy for managing stress
• Engagement; escape; reduce stress chemicals
•See my website: “Readaxation”

22. For you today:
• Three chances to win: signed Deathwatch (set in GWC) and The
Passionflower Massacre (rare out of print edition), a Help! Teenager!
tea-towel + a USB stick loaded with ebooks, Mondays are Red,
Sleepwalking + The Passionflower Massacre
• AND three chances to win a copy of Study Skills
• To enter, buy a book tonight and put your name in the hat. Six names
will be picked at random. The school will contact you if you’ve won.
• Good luck!

23. Understanding teenagers
and wellbeing
with Nicola Morgan
Up-to-date science, classroom materials,
advice books and more:
www.nicolamorgan.com