Overview

Even smart kids do stupid things. It's a simple fact of life. No one makes it through the teenage years unscathed--not the teens, not their parents. But now there's expert help for both generations in this groundbreaking new guide for surviving the drama of adolescence. In WHY Do They Act That Way? nationally renowned, award-winning psychologist Dr. David Walsh explains exactly what happens to the human brain on the path from childhood into adolescence and adulthood. Revealing the latest scientific findings in easy-to-understand terms, Dr. Walsh shows why moodiness, quickness to anger and to take risks, miscommunication, fatigue, territoriality, and other familiar teenage behavior problems are so common: all are linked to physical changes and growth in the adolescent brain. But WHY Do They Act That Way? goes beyond the well-known issues of hormones and peer pressure. It is the first book to explain the changes in teens' brains and to show parents how to use this information to understand, communicate with, and stay connected to their kids. Dr. Walsh actually likes teenagers and has worked with them and their families for more than thirty years as a parent, teacher, psychologist, coach, and trusted expert. Through real-life stories, he makes sense of their many mystifying, annoying, and even outright dangerous behavioral difficulties and provides realistic solutions for dealing with everyday as well as severe challenges. Dr. Walsh's techniques include, among others: sample dialogues that help teens and parents talk civilly and constructively with each other, behavioral contracts, and Parental Survival Kits that provide practical advice for dealing with issues like curfews, disrespectful language and actions, and bullying. In addition, Dr. Walsh explores the short- and long-term effects of drug and alcohol use on adolescent brain development, the effects of computer games and other activities, the brain differences between the sexes, and how to talk to your teen about sex and the epidemic of sexually transmitted diseases. With this arsenal of strategies, parents can help their kids learn to control impulses, manage erratic behavior, cope with their changing bodies, and, in effect, develop a second brain. Dr. Walsh's proven tactics will be extremely welcome to frustrated parents trying to help their children through this confusing time of life.

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Reviews

"Parents will find the book immensely informative, reassuring, and useful. I highly recommend it!-- ""Edward Hallowell, M.D., author of Driven to Distraction"" ""WHY Do They Act That Way is a comprehensive guide to the biology behind just about every adolescent behavior a parent or teacher might encounter...You'll finish it feeling as if you've just had coffee with someone who is not only entertaining and enlightening but who knows exactly how it feels to be the mom or dad of a twenty-first-century teen."" -- ""Cheryl Dellasega, PhD, author of Surviving Ophelia"" ""If you are struggling with your adolescent, or even anticipating your child's entrance into those crazy years, this book will show you why it all makes sense and how to help both you and your teen have the healthiest, sanest passage."" -- ""Gail Saltz, MD, assistant professor of psychiatry, The New York Presbyterian Hospital"" ""This book is an easy read, but its message is fresh, nuanced, and important. I recommend it to all parents who ask themselves, 'Why do they act this way?'"" -- ""Mary Pipher, PhD, author, Reviving Ophelia"""

Author Information

David Walsh, PhD, is one of the world's leading authorities on children, teens, parenting, family life, and the impact of technology on children's health and development. He is the author of several books, including Smart Parenting, Smarter Kids; No; and Dr. Dave's Cyberhood, and many of his articles have appeared in the professional and general press. His books have been translated into eight languages. He and his wife Monica live in Minneapolis and have three adult children and two grandchildren. David Walsh, Ph.D., is an award-winning psychologist and in-demand international speaker. He is the founder of the renowned National Institute on Media and the Family, which he led until 2009. A senior advisor at Search Institute, Dr. Walsh is on the faculty of the University of Minnesota. He is the author of several books, including Smart Parenting, Smarter Kids; No; and Dr. Dave's Cyberhood, and many of his articles have appeared in the professional and general press. His books have been translated into eight languages. He and his wife Monica live in Minneapolis and have three adult children and two grandchildren. Nat Bennett is a writer and teacher living in New York City. He received his BA from the University of Wisconsin at Madison. Nat Bennett is a writer and teacher living in New York City. He received his BA from the University of Wisconsin at Madison. Kaleo Griffith is an Earphones Award-winning audiobook narrator and classically trained actor. He graduated cum laude from Franklin Pierce University with a BA in theater, holds an MFA in acting from Rutgers University, and is a graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. He has appeared in such television series as Law & Order and Reggie's Family & Friends, among others.

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