It is not by coincidence that car rental companies do not rent to drivers under 25.
According to National Institutes of Health research scientist Dr. Jay Giedd, the teen brain is under construction beginning 11 for girls and 13 for boys. During that time, the part of the brain that governs impulse control, judgement, and decision-making doesn't fully develop until 25.
As Michael Bradley, Ed.D. says, "Mother nature...has a sense of humor because the renovations are done in the wrong order. She starts in the back with the social and emotional needs (impulses, risk-taking, sexual drives). The prefrontal cortex (executive functioning, logical decision-making) develops later. Some joke!"
What does this mean for a parent?
Your teen is in a high risk-taking and high sexual drive phase BEFORE she has the ability to make logical, healthy decisions. It does well to remember, your teen doesn't mean to act crazy, she doesn't mean to drive YOU crazy. You're in this together, and with some patience, love, and healthy boundaries, you'll make it out of it together.
Be well,
Rebecca
