All this information on the neurological science behind the teenage brain – isn't this just giving teens a free pass for inexcusable behaviour?

Although it’s important to remember our kid’s brains are still maturing, this doesn’t mean we can’t hold them accountable for their actions.  Kids need limits and rules, and a parent’s job is to put the rules in place.  That said, it’s useful for parents to have realistic expectations of their child.  It’s more powerful to be able to communicate with them at their level and give them guidance, than to be operating on a different plane and dispensing punishments that might do nothing to improve a child’s behavior going forward.  Research shows that punishing is damaging to communication between a parent and child, and can actually lessen a parent’s influence over time.