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- Marilyn Brengle

It's the mystery of mysteries–the unpredictable moods and behaviors of American teenagers. While 95 percent of the human brain has developed by the age of six, neuroscientists now tell us that the greatest spurts of growth after infancy occur just around adolescence. It is during the teen years that the brain is establishing new links between more complex ways of thinking and new emotional experiences.

The frontal cortex, which is the part of the brain in charge of planning, strategizing and judgement, is among the last parts to mature.

The amygdala is a small, almond shaped region of the brain located in the limbic system that guides instinctual or "gut" reactions. This area is responsible for quick emotional responses, which are often interpreted as crude, rude and hostile.

Teens use the amygdala more than adults for processing responses. Adults rely more on the frontal cortex, which governs reason and planning. As teens get older, their brain activity shifts more toward the frontal cortex and away from the quick, emotional responses.

A teen's frontal cortex needs to be developed through experiences in problem solving and decision making. Adults who tell teenagers what to do and how they should be acting usually have good intentions. But teens need to gain experiences in thinking and making decisions.

Information source: Dianne Weber, University of Wisconsin Extension

Raising kids, eating right, spending smart, living well–that's the theme of a national Living Well campaign being promoted by the Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences, both at the national level and here in Illinois. The goal of the Living Well Campaign is to provide people with the education and information they need in order to "live well."

"The Illinois Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (IEAFCS) works through University of Illinois Extension to offer all kinds of information that will help families achieve a positive, healthy lifestyle," says Joy Richey, U of I Extension unit leader and president of IEAFCS. "Whether you are trying to manage your diabetes through meal planning and exercise, make decisions about health care and insurance, or get tips on effective parenting techniques, Extension probably has the answer.

March 13-19 is Living Well Week, and it's a good time to get better acquainted with our resources on effective parenting, retirement planning, credit management, healthy eating, indoor air quality, and making decisions about insurance, health care and home purchases. Call 217-333-7672 for more information.

What influences a child to choose a career on the family farm, and when is that decision made? A new University of Illinois study of pre-teen farm youth suggests that the foundations for this life choice are set early and that maternal influence, rather than paternal expectations, may be the key.

Although previous studies have focused on high-school-aged youth, Angela Wiley's training in child development led her to believe farm kids would be influenced toward or against farming earlier than that. "Research implies that an important life decision such as this would be rooted in the early activities, education, and relationships of farm children," she said.

Wiley, an assistant professor in human development and family studies, surveyed 40 farm children aged 10 to 13 and interviewed their parents. She found that children who did more work at home were more likely to plan to farm, that mothers had more influence than fathers on farm children's future plans, and that perceptions of parental worry over the family farm's future also affected children.

"We found that 10- to 13-year-old children in farm families do a surprising amount of work," said Wiley. "They not only reported doing two hours of farm work per day during the busy farm season, but they also did a surprising amount of work around the house year round."

"Like Glen Elder, author of the pioneering study of farm families Children of the Land, we found that mothers have a strong influence on farm children. It may be that children, as they work around the house, have more opportunity to take in their mother's attitudes toward farming. If she is positive about farming as a career choice and a lifestyle, it may affect the child's later decision," Wiley said. A father's desire for the child to work on the family farm or a child's gender had little influence on these children's plans. However, almost all of the respondents reported high levels of getting along with their parents.

Wiley speculated that these good relationships could be partly attributed to the amount of time parents and children spend working side by side, in the house or in farm activities. "Children this age are unlikely to be doing farm work alone. The more likely scenario is that they're helping in some way, almost as apprentices," she said.
Although farm parents were careful to keep anxiety about the farm operation from their children, Wiley's respondents picked up on it anyway. If they believed their parents were worried about the farm, there was a "let-me-make-it-better" effect, said Wiley that led the children to plan to continue in the family business.
"They seem to have taken on a sense of responsibility from an early age that this is a family endeavor and I need to do my part," Wiley said. "Their plans to farm later may be an attempt to ease their parents' worries and to ensure the continuance of the family enterprise."

Wiley believes her study adds to a growing body of work that shows that children benefit from doing work that matters. "When children are engaged in work that's part and parcel of making the family function, there are some very positive aspects to that. These kids report having a tightly bonded relationship with their parents, a direction for the future, and higher self-esteem. Seen through the eyes of their children, we have to say that many farm mothers and fathers are doing a really good job in their parenting. Despite stresses and worries, they are finding time to talk and be with their children," said Wiley. "Moreover, this investment is likely to pay off in the future not only in terms of children's development and adjustment, but also in terms of the viability of family farms," she concluded.

The research will soon be published in the Journal of Research in Rural Education. Other researchers involved in the study were Timothy Bogg and Moon-Ho Ringo Ho.

As you head out for work, are you whistling a happy tune, or grumbling about something the boss said? Wouldn't it be wonderful if all of us were happy at work? We may not be able to insure happiness, but there are ways to make the best of our work situation.

"Research shows that employees are energized by jobs that provide some control, both in schedules and the work setting," explains Debbie McClellan, University of Illinois Extension family life educator. "Unfortunately, we don't all have ideal work conditions. Many of us work more hours than we want to. We may not be able to change our work schedules, but finding areas of our work where we do have control can affect our attitude and behavior on the job."

Think about what makes you feel in control. McClellan offers the suggestions below. Some may not fit your workplace, but they may help you come up with ideas that do.

• Brighten up your work area. Add some decorating touches or display a picture your child colored.
• Eliminate interruptions. Close the door, put the phone on voice mail, or wear a "special hat" that signals you don't want interruptions.
• Schedule your breaks. Plan your breaks to talk to friends at work or to make personal phone calls for yourself or the family.
• Expect the "predictable." Don't be annoyed by voice mail, traffic delays, empty coffee makers or waiting for the copy machine to warm up.
• Take a break from technology. Disconnect from work–pagers, e-mail, computers, cell phones, etc.
• Take vacations. You might try taking a restful vacation "at home" with no work, phone contact, computer access or pagers.
• Change your viewpoint. Instead of thinking "This is so boring," find ways to make the job interesting or meaningful. Maybe it's making others smile or recognizing the part you contribute is important to the whole.
• Dress with flair. Even if you wear a uniform, you might add a special touch that makes you feel unique.
• Speak up and ask. If you want something, ask politely. If you get it, be appreciative, and if you don't, accept it without taking it personally.
• Suggest a new way. Instead of doing things the same old way, perhaps there's a better system.
• Does a particular task need to be done? Inquire if work seems unnecessary. Maybe the task can be eliminated, or you might discover the reason for it.
• Make today special. Don't put off enjoyment for weekends or retirement!

If you are trying to cope with diabetes, check out the Diabetes LifeLines newsletter from University of Illinois Extension. The free newsletter includes medical information, exercise tips, nutrition facts related to diabetes, and recipes. You may view this newsletter at http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/diabetes/index.html