Brainy Stuff

As many of you may know, I love to read. My coffee table is usually littered with books that I’m in the middle of perusing. (Lately they seem to be grad school text books!) One of my biggest problems with reading is this—I can never seem to finish a book! No matter how interesting and exciting the book is, I never finish it. I’ll even recommend books to other people that I’ve never finished.

Well, I’m proud to say, I’ve finished reading (oh, within about 20 pages) a really great book. I’ve been reading The Primal Teen: What the New Discoveries about the Teenage Brain Tell Us about Our Kids, by Barbara Strauch. This is not a Christian book, or even a parenting book, but it’s one that any parent of a teenager should own! Strauch addresses topics such as the introduction and length of adolescence (now extended to the late twenties!), the role of risk-taking, failure, consistency, and enthusiasm, all from a brain perspective! For example, did you know that the prefrontal cortex of a teenager’s brain is not completely formed until his or her mid-twenties? This is the area that makes decisions, empathy, and controlling impulses. This is also where the personality of a person exists (ever wonder why your kid seems to change friends or personas within a month?).

Fascinating stuff. From a youth ministry perspective, my mind has been blown in regards to how to treat our teenagers and what to expect from them in the area of faith. My friend Adam Lehman read this book as well and created a great description of a 15 year old disciple. He or she will:

• Be inconsistent (but have a growing desire for consistency)
• Be apparently hypocritical (as they learn to match behavior with thought)
• Be moving away from compartmentalized thinking
• Be moving outside their comfort zone
• Have a unique journey of discipleship
• Be teachable
• Be a “rebellious” disciple (challenge and question ideas as they begin to think abstractly)

Sound at all like your child? Relax—it’s normal. Wild, but normal. While we are only beginning to understand how the brain works, research is confirming that this is a WILD RIDE for families. As a parent, you could have said that without reading this book, but it’s helpful to understand the science behind what’s happening in your child’s head.

While not always understanding things like synapses and neurons, I do know the God that created these things. And with every page I read of this book, I became more in awe of That Big Guy that created us. Seriously—who thinks this stuff up?! For me, learning became an act of worship. Maybe it will for you too?

P.S. We will be offering a parent seminar this fall on adolescence and teenage brain development this fall…but in the meantime, put Primal Teen on your summer reading list!