Episode 66 - How To Talk To Teenagers About Their Brains with Dr Sarah McKay
About this episode
This episode discusses how to effectively communicate with teenagers about their brains with insights from neuroscientist Dr Sarah McKay.
How can we talk to teenagers about their brain in a way that actually helps, rather than making them roll their eyes? In this episode, I am joined by Dr Sarah McKay, a neuroscientist and author specialising in brain health, with a particular focus on women's brain health across the lifespan. Together, we explore what's really going on in the teenage brain, and why the way we talk about it matters more than we might think. Rather than asking parents to explain neuroscience to their teenagers, Sarah offers a more helpful approach: using what we understand about the brain to shape how we respond. We discuss the risks of common myths, such as teenagers being "ruled by hormones" or "unable to make good decisions", and how these narratives can shape behaviour in unhelpful ways. Instead, we reframe adolescence as a period of learning, growth and social development, where motivation, belonging and experience play a central role. With relatable parenting examples and clear, evidence-based insights, this conversation will help you better understand teenage behaviour and respond in a way that supports your relationship with your child. You can find out more about Dr Sarah McKay and her work…
More episodes of Just One Thing for Parents with Dr Bettina Hohnen
- Episode 68 - How Do I Know If My Child Needs Help? with Laura Dimler
- Episode 67 - The Impact of Divorce and Infidelity on Children with Juliet Rosenfeld
- Episode 65 - Breaking the OCD Cycle: How Parents Can Help with Dr Stuart Brownings
- Episode 64 - A Long-Form Special: Living in the Age of Diagnosis with Dr Anna Hutchinson and Dr Libby Nugent
- Episode 63 - Surviving (and Thriving in) Neurodiverse Parenting with Professor Amanda Kirby
- Episode 62 - Helping Children Make and Keep Friends with Dr Eileen Kennedy-Moore
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