Kids aren’t born with emotional maturity or impulse control. It takes experience—and time—to get there. In fact, research has shown that the part of the brain that helps a person make good decisions isn’t fully developed until age 25 or so. Teens even think with a different part of their brain than adults, using emotion rather than reason.
See Also
Discipline, Punishment, and RewardsWhere Can You Send Troubled Youth? | TurnbridgeAlternatives to Spanking | Child Development and Family Center | Northern Illinois UniversityWekie Education | Mental Arithmetic and Careless ChildrenAdd rapid hormonal changes to the mix, and one thing is certain: “Kids are going to mess up,” says licensed therapist Erin Harlow-Parker, APRN. “They’re going to test the boundaries. They’re going to make poor decisions.”
Here are some time-tested, evidence-based discipline tips for kids, whether they are 7 or 17.
