It is widely accepted that young children’s
brains are extremely malleable. One look at a
two year old
shows us that early childhood is a time of incredible
developmental change. However, new brain
science is shedding light onto our understanding
of how children's brains grow and develop over
time. Contrary to long-standing belief, the adolescent
brain is not a finished product. In fact, it is
in the
midst of a period of dynamic growth. And during
this important developmental stage, an adolescent
brain can be very powerfully affected by the experiences
they have.
Neuroscientists agree: when the brain is in
the midst of major rewiring, it is extremely susceptible
to outside influences. In other words, the experiences
our kids have when their brains are developing
have a profound impact on the mental map they
will use as adults. This research not only explains
a lot about the baffling behavior of teenagers
but also reminds us that media are powerful forces
in the lives of kids of all ages. In other words,
if we believe that Sesame Street is teaching
our four-yearolds something then we better believe
that Grand Theft Auto Vice City is teaching
our fourteen-yearolds something.
