I came across adolescent psychologist @DrCamCaswell on Instagram recently and was interested in some of what she shared about the teenage brain. I hope you might also find some of her insights helpful as you navigate the ups and downs of parenting your teenagers. 

Dr Cam writes:

We often look at our teens and see what’s wrong. The messy room. The impulsive choices. The eye rolls. And it’s easy to think:

• They’re not ready.
• I need to step in.
• I need to fix this.

But what if the problem isn’t that they’re falling short? What if it’s that we’re not giving them enough space to rise? The teen brain is at its peak for learning, adapting, and becoming. It’s faster than ours. More flexible than ours. More wired for growth than at any other time in life. They’re not broken. They’re building. But here’s the catch - That growth doesn’t happen if we do it all for them. It doesn’t happen when we jump in to correct every misstep or protect them from every fall.

• It happens when we guide, not control.
• It happens when we let them struggle, try again, and build their own wiring.
• It happens when we trust the masterpiece in progress.

The teen brain is incredibly neuroplastic - it can form habits, shift perspectives and recover from setbacks faster than most adult brains. As parents we can focus on growth, not perfection. When they mess up (and they will) we can guide them to reflect and reset. Their brain is actually built to bounce back.

The teen brain is designed to question everything - rules, beliefs, even us. This isn’t rebellion. It’s the foundation of independence, critical thinking and identity formation. Welcome their questions. Create space for disagreement. Let them stretch their thinking without shutting them down. You’re helping them become who they are.

The emotional centre of the brain develops before the reasoning centre. That’s why our teenagers' feelings run so deep. Try not to minimise their feelings, rather, help them to name emotions, regulate their reactions and turn intensity into meaningful action.

Teen brains are in the process of sharpening the connections they need to use the most, becoming more efficient with every choice they make. Let them practice real-life skills - managing time, making decisions, owning their mistakes. The more they use it the more it sticks. Independence isn’t instant - it’s built.

God bless

Angela Myles | Executive Principal