Many teenagers today are excellent multi-taskers. They listen to music, do homework, and text all at once.
Picture a teenager nestled comfortably on the family couch. The parents have settled in to watch their nightly shows while he does his homework. The teenager has their personal laptop with social networking sites up and their cell phone going off all the time. This young person’s brain is on overload, trying to process the television, parents, homework, text messages, and computer all at once, and as a result, his homework (and thus his education) will likely suffer.
The Multi-tasking Teen
Many researchers believe that multi-tasking is not actually the performance of multiple tasks simultaneously, but rather the illusion that multiple tasks are taking place at the same time. The brain appears to be switching rapidly back and forth from one task to another, and as a result every task is being done at a slower pace than if each task was completed separately. The perceived speed of the tasks comes from jamming so many into one space of time.
Teenagers find this thrilling. The ability to hold several conversations while doing homework, listening to music, and baking cookies is remarkable. Their parents say they do not understand how their children do so many things at once, and the parents claim that they cannot accomplish the same tasks. This appeals to the teen’s competitive nature. Teenagers begin to believe that multi-tasking makes them special, important and productive. Sadly, multi-tasking could be harming their ability to appropriately develop through the teen years.
The Multi-Tasking Brain
The brain does not mature until after twenty-one years of age. Thus, teenagers who multi-task are technically doing so with an under-developed brain. The act of multi-tasking distributes actions throughout the brain and decreases their caliber. A comparable scenario would be if too many light bulbs connected to the same limited electrical supply. All of the bulbs will light up, but they will appear dimmer than if only one or two were receiving all the electricity. Similarly, a teen may complete all of the tasks, but they will do so far less efficiently and probably less aptly than if they’d concentrated on one at a time.
Another drawback occurs after the fact. Recovering information received during a multi-tasking session will be more difficult than recovering information learned while intensely focusing on one particular subject. The young person mentioned at the beginning of this article, for example, will probably not remember his homework or his conversation with his parents very clearly because they happened at the same time with so many other interruptions.
In general, multi-tasking as a whole is probably not detrimental, but multi-tasking during something important (homework, driving, etc.) is definitely not advisable. A teenager of the 21st century is drawn to the fast-paced appeal of multi-tasking, so it may help for parents to set some guidelines. Restrict teens’ access to social networking sites, especially during homework time, and ask them to turn their cell phone off or leave it in another room. Your teen could perform better in school as a result.
The first step to having a healthy teenager is having a healthy relationship with your teenager. You, the parent, are their compass to how things work in the world. Several tools are at your disposal such as leading by example, active listening and asking your teen to be involved in decisions that involve them. Show your teen that they are important by saying they are and allowing them to have a voice. Fostering this type of relationship will hopefully bring smoother sailing in the teenage years and healthier relationships down the road.
The reality of divorce in the 21st century has forced many adolescents into awkward stepparent situations. While some teenagers accept their stepparents’ role readily and with little drama, other teens are not so quick to adjust. To ensure that your family makes the transition smoothly, follow the tips below.
Recognize and validate emotions.
Adding a new person to a family is always tricky. The most important thing to remember is communication. Never stop reaffirming your teenager and their place in your life. Take time to do the normal things you would with them and try not to disrupt their schedule more then you have to. Your love and devotion will translate into a happier healthy family through communication and respect.
Gambling is a recent trend in teenage behavior which is raising some controversy across the country. This risky habit has been recently televised through ESPN’s World Series of Poker along with a feature on teen-based shows like Pretty Little Liars (ABC Family). Currently the rate of high school gambling problems has surpassed adults 2 to 1. This drastic increase is due to the ease of access on the internet and social get-togethers. Some gamblers can be purely social and in no danger of addiction. However, pathological gambling leads to addiction quite quickly. Knowing the signs of both is important for parents and peers alike. Early intervention and education can help curb this upward trend in teen gambling addicts.
Parenting more than one child will always result in some sort of comparison. No one sets out to compare two individuals who grew up under the same roof, but it happens quite often. Teachers, relatives and peers will all see the differences between siblings and comment on them. The key to dodging the detrimental effects of this trend is showing the overshadowed sibling that they are an individual. They are not, in fact, a replica or even a younger version of their older sibling.