Q: Why can teens be so moody and what can adults do to help?
A: By the teen years, many parents note there is more door slamming, screaming, crying one minute, laughter the next! The good news is that moodiness is generally related to hormonal changes and brain maturation and tend to improve as puberty finishes. What can adults do to help? For starters, try hard not to react. Model healthy behaviors and encourage teens to take the downtime they require to calm down. Also, as this article suggests have your teen shake a glitter jar and watch it settle down. Finally, although all teens can be occasionally moody or impulsive, remember if they are persistently angry, sad, or withdrawn it may be time to get help.