How to Deploy the Amazing Power of the Teen Brain

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adults go way to far trying to shelter there teens they just need to lay back and pick therre battles better its dumb what adults try to do just to stop there kids from doing things that wont effect them at all. sure parents should watch after there kids but they should not take away everything fun in summery they should just get off teens jock.

james of NC 9:52PM June 26, 2009

Reading this article just reminded me how much adults forget their teenage years and try to point the finger at today's teen as though they never made the same mistakes. The answer to this article is simple, teens have less experience in a lot of areas and so make decisions on what they think they know. I'm tired of all these studies on teens as if we are a separate species and as though our parents and how they raise us doesn't have a great effect on the actions we make.

Jade of NY 4:53PM March 01, 2009

Teens and stupid people make the best test dummies I've found because neither have the discipline to follow the rules, ergo make the most mistakes to test out processes, guidelines, rules, procedures, etc... before putting into practice. In the software industry, I used the young folks to test new programs as release control making sure thay could not only use the software but couldn't break it!!! They have the curousity and bullet-proof attitude to try anything, once!!!

Ray Fisher of NM 3:27PM March 01, 2009

This article gave me a clearer perspective of teens' often irrational and petulant behavior today, but I remain baffled by the increasingly delayed maturity I see in evidence among so many modern teenagers--not to mention the majority of younger adults--here in the USA.
A knee-jerk conclusion would be that the overindulgence in the "self-esteem" fanaticism so prevalent in our educational system is the primary culprit, but I doubt that's the full story. Still, it seems that as each self-congratulating generation breeds yet another, even more egotistic, wave of future parents, the problem compounds and worsens.
I'd be interested in hearing other readers' opinions on this subject.

MSWmson of TX 12:33PM February 22, 2009

Yeah, I'm a high school student that is trying to find things for health class that are currently realted to health... but.. i can't find any >.> and you come across these sites that, when you look at first hand you think " ah well this seems like a good article " but nu -.-! sorry about that little rant it's just thats it is 5th hour and i'm tried.. go figure.
P.s. Have a nice day

Brandon Baker of MO 1:52PM January 07, 2009

When I was 14, I thought I knew everything.
Turns out I was right.

theantibush of HI 12:49PM December 02, 2008

Some teens are amazing. Country Music's Taylor Swift had written 250 songs by age 16---many of them capturing the essence of emotion. "If you think happiness, I hope you think that little black dress, and my head on your chest. I hope you think of me." (From her first big hit.)
I wish I had my teen brain back. (Male, age 57.)

of 10:24AM December 02, 2008

Oh I agree with Tyler above. Alex Plante seems like someone really cool. I wonder if she has a boyfriend? When will I meet someone that cool in my own life? How tall is she? Does she dye her hair? Would she save my life if I was dying? If I was, in fact, dying in an ambulance, would she look like an angel? Maybe one day she'll transfer from LC in Portland, OR and come to my school: Howard County Community College in MD. Oh how I wish. Every night since I've seen this article I've longed to meet this girl.
I know its sappy, but oh so true. Alex Plante is such a hottie. Woah is me. Maybe it's my undeveloped brain - or my undeveloped love - but I must meet her some day.

Relyt of PA 2:02PM December 01, 2008

I'm the father of two sons who come from the same gene pool and family environment, yet they are as different as night and day, which leads me to believe that our children come to us hard-wired.
It's my opinion that parents assume too much guilt when raising "difficult children" and too much credit when their kids are easier to direct and motivate. I believe that as parents we need to accept that we're just tinkering at the margins of human behavior. Sometimes the best we can do is to provide our kids with love and as stable an environment as possible and hope that their frontal lobes kick in before they make bad decisions that have long-lasting consequences.

LC of MD of MD 9:57AM December 01, 2008

It has been my experience in working with young adults in a supervisory capacity, that not all have the same character of mind. While some youthful adults seem to be mentally and emotionally mature much beyond their years, others seem to struggle with decisions and responsibilities.
While the information in these studies seem to suggest that the adolescent's brain is undergoing changes that mostly affect their thinking adversely, that has certainly not been my experience. One thing that is for certain: "As a twig is bent, so grows the tree," as the old adage has it. The experiences of a young person will definitely shape their future for better or worse.

William P. of TX 9:06PM November 28, 2008