Why your teen’s brain is wired to make poor choices

In this month’s Maggie Moment, Maggie explains that Mother Nature is preparing our teens to launch into the world and be their own person. Part of this process is a hunger for risk, which carries with it the belief that no harm can come to them. Boys in particular are extremely impulsive in the teen years, as their brain GABA is reduced.

As parents we want to keep our teens safe so this is incredibly frustrating, but it is a normal part of the development process. Maggie suggests we should come alongside our teens with compassion and understanding, even when we feel scared.

Help Me Help My Teen is a reassuring, practical guide for parents to help teenagers navigate adolescence and grow into confident, capable adults. Purchase here.