Adolescent Brain Development

Speaker: Elizabeth Wynter

Welcome, welcome to part two of Becoming Youth Centered. I'm so excited you're here. In this section we're going to dive into the intricacies of adolescent brain development. We're gonna talk through the important strengths based approach of positive youth development and the integral and crucial portion of having permanent connections as young people are transitioning from adolescence to adulthood. And so as we take and consider adolescent development, we have to think about the brain's development during this critical stage. And so during this stage, young people are undergoing significant changes that affect their cognitive, emotional and social abilities. That prefrontal cortex is in the process of developing and it is responsible for our executive functioning. Things like planning and reasoning and self control and impulse control are all just coming into being as that part of the brain further develops. We also have to provide opportunities for young people to test their skill set, right? To try out, to take risk, which is what adolescence is a part of. And so as we think about positive youth development, there is five C's that we have to work towards and help our young people work towards and that is competence, confidence, connection, caring, and character. And we'll dive more into those things. And last, but certainly not least is the importance of connection. And so, we know in looking at the NYTD response to asking young people, do you have a positive adult connection? The majority of them are saying they are, they do. And so we already know that young people have people in their lives who they love and who love them. Hence the name of my book, Follow The Love. But we need to help them scaffold those connections and strengthen them over time. And so together these three components really form a comprehensive youth well-being system. By understanding and supporting adolescent brain development, by fostering positive youth development, by focusing on strengths rather than deficits, and ensuring that young people are supported in maintaining and developing and strengthening their connections. We can create an environment where young people can flourish socially and emotionally. This is an integrated approach that will really help them not only survive, but thrive.