Adolescents and teens have a natural desire to distance themselves from their parents and pursue psychological independence. No matter how good a parent you are, your adolescent will drift away from you at some time. Friends and classmates appear to be more significant at this period, while parents appear to be less so. The reasons for this phenomenon are many and complex. Adolescence is a time of growth and transition. Your teen needs to develop skills he or she can use later in life. This may include learning to work with others, manage money well, or make healthy choices. The process of growing up also includes trying out different roles - including that of parent - before finding the right one for him or her. During adolescence, the brain is changing and developing at a rapid rate. Brain cells called neurons connect together to form networks that control thought and behavior. Exercise and a healthy diet help build strong brains and bodies. Teens who get sufficient sleep each night repair the damage done by waking up too often during the day with no time to rest! In addition to thinking and acting like everyone else, adolescents are social animals who need to learn what it means to be part of a group. This usually involves comparing themselves to their friends and deciding which ones are cool enough to invite over to play video games or watch movies. Parents don't necessarily know the best ways to protect their children's privacy, so they may give away too much information about themselves.