The Ficklers
The slippery slope of emotions in your middle schoolers.
Frontal lobe
A scientist of brain development said ”The brain's remote control is the prefrontal cortex, a section of the brain that weighs outcomes, forms judgments and controls impulses and emotions. This section of the brain also helps people understand one another.”
Before puberty, the frontal lobe of the brain:
-handles all thought
-handles voluntary behavior (such as walking, speech, and problem solving, and some aspects of emotion)
During the teenage ages, the frontal lobe is in charge of:
-controlling planning
-working memory
-organization
-modulating mood
- weighs outcomes
-forms judgments- controls impulses and emotions
Since the frontal lobe isn't fully developed at this time of life, children have problems controlling them.
Friend or Foe
The frontal lobe of the brain also helps people understand one another. So when you disagree, the child sees you as an enemy.
What can I do?
"While adults can use rational processes when facing emotional decisions, teenagers are simply not yet equipped to think through things in the same way."
As a parent of a changing child try to get a better understanding about you child's situation.