Ever wondered why your teen kids seem to zone out even when you’re actively speaking at them?
Or maybe you have to call them three maybe ten times from the kitchen before they hear you?
Short of raising the volume of your voice or outright shouting, there’s a reason why teens, especially teenage boys, start to tune out their mum’s voices once they reach this hormonal and angsty period of their lives.
A Stanford research reveals that as teens start to gain their independence, their brains no longer find reward from hearing their mother’s voices. Instead, focusing on new or unfamiliar sounds.
This may be why they prefer to hang around friends or kids their age who they have not grown up with and whose voices are new to them.
It all boils down to how the brain matures, tuning out familiar sounds for unfamiliar ones.
This development acts as a sort of training wheel to help them survive and thrive in communities outside of their families.
So, when your teen son looks like he’s not listening to you, he’s not being rebellious or showing attitude, or pretending not to listen.
It’s all just a normal part of growing up.
But there’s good news in all of this.
An adjacent research also reveals that when teens were asked to identify their mother’s voices, more than 97% of them got it right.
Which means that they’ve recognised their mum’s specific tone and inflection so much that their brain remembers it.
My kids never listen to me.. it turns out based on Stanford research that kids litteraly tune out mother’s voice as part of their growth process towards independence. Their brains are wired to be listening to dangerous sounds or new voices instead. It explains a lot. #toddlersoftiktok #momsoftiktok #momsoftiktokclub #momsoftiktokover30 #momsofboys #momsofboysbelike #boymom #boymomlife #mom #moms #toddlermom #toddlersmom #theminivanmama #pillowtalk #parents #parenting #parentingtipsandtricks #parentsoftiktok #parentingtips #parentinghacks
It can be a hard pill to swallow for any parent. Finding out your young man no longer needs you.
But that is simply a rite of passage.
So, don’t worry, my fellow parents!
As time goes on and they move past the teen phase, your kids will slowly start to appreciate hearing their mum’s voices again, and all the comfort and belonging that it invokes.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as medical advice from Motherhood. For any health-related concerns, it is advisable to consult with a qualified healthcare professional or medical practitioner.
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