During adolescence, your child’s body matures and she becomes more self-sufficient and independent. These years also bring dramatic hormonal fluctuations, greater peer pressure, increased access to drugs, alcohol, sex, and the risk of unsafe driving practices. The problem is that the part of the brain that will in later years guide her logical thinking, judgment, prioritizing, and risk-assessment has yet to literally “get it together.” This can be a setup for disaster.
The neural networks in the brain that will ultimately guide your child’s self-control and goal-directed behavior are called executive functions. These circuits are located in the prefrontal cortex, which is the last part of the brain to mature.
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