What the heck is ‘popcorn brain’ and why are experts warning parents to be on the lookout for it in their teens?
Most of us who are parents to teens will know how scatty they can be. I am talking dishes left in bedroom, keys left in the front door, chores forgotten about, homework also forgotten about – sounds familiar? I think it does to all of us.
However, while it can be easy to just shake our head and think being an absent-minded scatterbrain is just part of parcel of being a teenager, this is often not the case, says David M. Levy, a lecturer at the University of Washington in the US, to Parents.com.
In fact, he says, it could just very well be that you teen if suffering form ‘popcorn brain’ – a term Levy himself coined that refers to teens and young people are ‘so hooked on digital multitasking that slower-paced everyday tasks hold no interest.’
What, then, is popcorn brain?
Levy explains that teens and young people nowadays are so used to so-called digital multitasking, like using multiple apps at once or scrolling while also watching TV, and this, he warns, is harming both their ability to concentrate, as well as their interest in hobbies and social interactions, like meeting up with friends.
And sure look – making your child or teen go cold turkey with technology and social media might be futile, but, says Levy, there are things parents can check for if they suspect their child is suffering from popcorn brain, such as:
- Difficulty concentrating and rapid shifts in attention
- Constant craving for stimulation
- Difficulty retaining information
- Difficulty following multi-step directions
- Feeling anxious and unable to regulate emotions
And while it might seem like something we are all suffering from to an extent these days, studies have shown so-called popcorn brain could actually harm tweens’ and teens’ cognitive abilities long term.
Also speaking to Parents.com is Aliah Singh, co-founder of CultivaTeen Roots, an online learning platform for parents and caregivers of teens. And Singh emphasizes that popcorn brain can, in fact, have an impact on a kids’ emotional development.
‘Because teen brains have not yet mastered the art of managing their intense emotions, spending time on social media removes adolescents from real life situations that allow them to build important social skills,’ she explains.
‘Prolonged screen time can lead to mood swings and make real world obstacles feel more stressful than they are, causing adolescents to shut down and become overwhelmed.’
How to help teens with popcorn brain
Removing digital devices, phones and other screens and media completely is not really possible in this day and age, but Singh says parents can absolutely help kids who suffer with popcorn brain. Her first and most important tip is to establish healthy boundaries around tech use and screen time.
‘Making space on a regular basis to be mindful, intentional, and present (without the presence of screens) can help the teen brain relearn how to maintain focus,’ Singh says.
One thing she says parents should really focus on when it comes to combatting popcorn brain is in-person social engagement – in other words, having your teens hang out with you and meet up with friends in person, not just over the phone or through gaming.
As well as this, Singh says kids and teens need to be allowed time to be bored.
‘From boredom comes creativity, new ideas, patience, imagination, focus, and more,’ she explains.
‘In our fast paced world, teens need to work on slowing down.’
The expert also suggests the following activities for teens who struggle to focus and concentrate:
Doing chores at home – one task at a time
Go on a walk together.
Help them find a book they love and encouraging them to read
Involve them in dinner planning.
Encouraging them to do a puzzle or arts and crafts project
