Construction site in the brain

Where has my child gone? The sweet daughter has turned into a moody bitch, the lovely son is partying excessively with his friends. The massive personality changes during puberty are due to a huge restructuring of the brain. Here you can read how the "construction site in the head" affects the thoughts, emotions and sensory perception of adolescents and how you can guide your child through puberty.

The brain develops rapidly in babies and during childhood. Depending on the influences of the environment, connections are formed between the hemispheres of the brain and between the nerve cells. And it doesn't stop there. From around the age of eleven, the brain begins to optimize itself: the nervous system in the brain is now undergoing profound restructuring. In the process, the brain organizes its work efficiently: It cuts unused connections between nerve cells and stabilizes those connections that are used frequently. These construction measures cause great chaos in the head - and can lead to you hardly recognizing your own child. Even though the remodeling process may seem chaotic, it has an important function: during maturation, the connections between the nerve cells in the brain, the neuronal networks, are formed. They develop as a result of the experiences your child has and what it learns.

The frontal brain, which organizes and structures, suffers the longest from the restructuring. It is, so to speak, out of action during this time. As a result, this area of the brain cannot adequately control social behavior during puberty. The consequences: teenagers' moods change from "jubilant" to "saddened to death", a lack of control over their own impulses and sometimes even choleric fits. While the control instance is suspended, the reward system in the brain constantly demands the happiness hormone dopamine. This means that adolescents have a huge need for rewards and recognition. The most important thing for them is affirmation from their peers. They are also more willing to take risks - especially boys. The natural "brakes in the head" that protect against dangerous actions such as daring or drug use are not yet working.

Many young people not only find it difficult to control their behaviour and manage their emotions; they are also often no longer able to organize their work so well. They sometimes fail to plan their actions in a targeted manner: they forget their homework or don't prepare properly for the next class test. As a result, academic performance can also temporarily plummet while the brain is being restructured.

The maturation of the brain is not complete until around the age of 20

First of all, you should make yourself aware of what the construction site in your child's head means. This will help you to understand the sometimes difficult to bear behavior. At some point, the chaos in their head will be over and you will see that your patience has paid off: At the end of the process, you will be looking at a young and mature person.

How to guide your child through puberty:

• Give your child structure and orientation through a regular daily routine and your support

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• Ensure regular and sufficient sleep as much as possible. This is particularly important during this stressful time!
• Don't set too narrow a framework: give your teenager the opportunity to explore their limits and overcome challenges.

Show your child that you stand by them, whatever happens, and that you trust them.

• But also make it clear that your child is responsible for their own actions and must accept the consequences (for example, cleaning up after an excessive party).

Share your concerns with your child - for example with regard to drugs or dares. This shows that you care about how your daughter or son is doing.