Page 20 - (DK) Help Your Kids with Growing Up: A No-Nonsense Guide to Puberty and Adolescence

18 GR O WING UP

Thinking independently SEE ALSO 84–85 ›

Emotions
Goals and ambitions 112–113 ›
During adolescence, rapid brain development means Making judgements 134–135 ›
that teens begin to use new ways of thinking. One really Understanding the news 160–161 ›
important ability is independent thought, which helps to
boost a teen's self-esteem and prepares them for the future.

What is independent thought?

When a person is able to think on their own and make informed decisions, “The essence of the
without anyone guiding their thoughts or decision-making, they are demonstrating independent mind lies
independent thought. People begin to think independently as young children, but it
takes time and practice to cultivate the skill. During the teen years, a person’s ability to not in what it thinks,
think independently advances quickly, because the parts of the brain responsible for but in how it thinks.”
cognition begin to develop rapidly. While their brain function is expanding, teens are
continually refining the skills that help them to become independent individuals, Christopher Hitchens –
learning from examples set by others, and by their own trial and error. journalist, author, critic

Thinking skills in adolescence
Brain growth in adolescence allows teens to develop complex
thinking processes – such as abstract thinking, reason, comparison,
and empathy – encouraging independent thought and behaviour.

Abstract thinking Reasoning
This way of thinking considers This thought process involves
possibilities and ideas that are a person looking at all the
not physically present. facts of a situation logically
and analytically to form their
own opinions and ideas, plus
questions for further research
and understanding.

Comparing different Empathy
viewpoints This attribute enables a person
This trait leads to a greater to see things from another's
understanding of topics, and perspective, and to understand
provokes questions for debate. their point of view. It is an
important part of healthy
and successful relationships.

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