Jenifer Strauss is a speaker, storyteller and educator who engages audiences with a warm and interactive style, in over 300 speaking engagements a year. Jenifer is a Training Consultant and Speaker with the National Institute on Media and the Family. Jenifer cares deeply about the Barry County Community, as she herself calls Barry County “Home” when she is not traveling around the country speaking, teaching, and sharing her love of story.

Description: Adolescence has been described as a "normally abnormal stage of life." This workshop, based on Dr. David Walsh's best selling book, Why Do They Act That Way? A Survival Guide to the Adolescent Brain for You and Your Teen explains exactly what happens to the adolescent brain on the path from childhood into adulthood.

This workshop will explain why moodiness, quickness to anger, willingness to take risks, miscommunication and other familiar teenage behavior are so common - all are linked to physical changes and growth in the adolescent brain. This workshop goes beyond the well-known issues of hormones and peer pressure. We will touch on the powerful role of media in teenagers' lives and show concerned adults how to use this information to understand, communicate with, and stay connected to youth.