Wired for Risks: Your Child's Brain
The superpower of the adolescent brain
We know one thing for sure: young brains are wired to take risk! And this isn’t always a bad thing. In fact, it’s the risk taking that allows experiences to shape and mold the pre-frontal cortex part of the brain for quicker, more accurate decision-making, building beliefs and ultimately, your personality.
From the age of 10 to 18, the brain is experiencing an exponential growth period where it is strengthening synapes based on favored experiences, and discarding synapes that aren’t helpful anymore. The brain will lose about 70% of it’s synapes during this period. And we want that!
However, when substances of any kind are introduced to the brain during this time, it can strengthen synapes to favor the experience caused by the substance. And the cycle of addiction occurs.
We only have one brain—its the only organ we haven’t been able to successfully transplant! It’s incredibly important that we build spaces and communities that allow kids and teens to experience healthy risk-taking so they aren’t tempted to turn to substances in the first place.
Healthy Risk-taking is the key!
Experiencing risk, failure, success are all critical for the brain to develop during adolescence. And luckily, in a state like Idaho, exciting risk is all around us! Consider:
Going for a walk, run, or hike,
Float, raft or kayak down a river,
Audition for the school play, orchestra, or band,
Trying rock climbing,
Skiing, snowboarding, tubing, or snowshoeing,
Anything else that gets you giddy!
There are a lot of opportunities to try something new or continue doing something you love. And get your friends and family involved—its way more fun when you have people around you enjoying the experience too!