Parental Engagement & Brain Development

Citing remarks by Nora D. Volkow, M.D., director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, The Herald News reports that parental involvement is critical to the development of the prefrontal cortex — the part of the brain responsible for decision-making. Many of us take this for granted, but it’s not always easy to stay connected with our children, especially during adolescence. Without a strong connection to their parents, children may have “weaker brain development which raises the risk of impulsive behavior such as drug use.” Yet another reason to connect with your kids!

"Connected Parenting advises us not just how to parent, but—far more important—who to be as parents. The therapeutic methods suggested by Jennifer Kolari are based not on simple-minded behavioural solutions, but on building warm, nurturing relationships with our children, with insight and compassion not only for their little flaws, but also for our own larger ones."
—Gabor Maté, M.D.

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