Middle Adolescence is Characterized by __________

While entering the teenage years may be intimidating for both you and your child, understanding the ups and downs of each phase can improve set y’all to deal with whatever challenges. Each child is dissimilar, but y’all tin can by and large expect the following changes during the three stages of adolescence every bit outlined by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Each stage is separated into lists of both concrete and mental/emotional changes.

Ages 10 to 13: Early on Adolescence

Physical Growth & Evolution

• Puberty for many children and pre-teens begins during this stage of adolescence.

• Pre-teens experience both concrete growth and sexual development, which can be uncomfortable for pre-teens and teens.

• Trunk changes during early adolescence may include developing hair nether the arms and in the pubic expanse, testicular enlargement in males, and chest development in females.

• Changes commonly start happening earlier for females than for males. Females may outset developing a twelvemonth or two ahead of boys in nigh cases.

• Changes can start as early on every bit age 8 in females and age 9 for males but tin can become more noticeable at the onset of adolescence.

Mental & Emotional Development

• Pre-teens and teens begin to assert more independence as they motility through the stages of adolescence. This means they may insubordinate, peculiarly when parents reinforce rules and fix limits.

• Children of this historic period grouping often accept an increased need for privacy, another sign of wanting more than independence and less supervision.

• They may also require more privacy to bargain with the curiosity and anxiety that come with body changes and new feelings.

• In this stage, children may notice or first to question their gender identity. This is something that may proceed throughout or even across the stages of adolescence.

• Information technology’s common for pre-teens to become more focused on themselves, or a bit egocentric. Their thoughts and feelings are centered on themselves, making them cocky-witting.

• At this point, kids starting time feeling similar they are e’er being judged past people, peculiarly their peers.

• At this point in adolescence, children have a very “blackness-and-white” thought process. Something is either right or wrong, with no room for other interpretation. They see things as either amazing or awful, rarely ever just “okay.”

Ages 14 to 17: Middle Adolescence

Physical Development

Changes from puberty are all the same happening in teens during middle adolescence.

• Physical changes in females may accept slowed downwardly or finished, just by this historic period most will beginning having regular menstrual periods.

• Most males will have started their pubescent growth spurt

• Male’s voices begin to lower and at that place may be a period where the vocalisation cracks.

• Acne develops in both males and females.

Mental & Emotional Evolution

• As the brain continues to develop, thought processes mature during this fourth dimension, however, they still do not procedure things similar adults even so.
  • The frontal lobes are the last parts of the brain to develop and are not fully mature by this stage. The frontal lobes are responsible for complex conclusion making, judgment, impulse control, and considering the consequences of deportment.

• Teens at this age may be able to start thinking in the abstract and start seeing the bigger film rather than the specifics of 1 situation. They tin can use logic, only are still primarily driven by emotion.

• Teens of this historic period start feeling interested in romantic and sexual relationships.

• Exploration of their sense of identity besides as beliefs and values is common. Some teens desire to fit in with their peers while others want to assert their individuality.

Ages 18 to 21: Late Boyhood

Physical Development

During late adolescence, concrete development has been completed for most immature people. Nigh people take grown to their total adult heights.

Mental & Emotional Development

The encephalon is completing its evolution during late adolescence. Notwithstanding, the frontal lobe volition not fully develop until around historic period 25. That’s why some people consider belatedly adolescence to exist ages xviii to 24.

• Young people in this age range unremarkably accept better impulse command and decision-making skills than in centre boyhood. Risks and rewards are more than accurately evaluated.

• There is a stronger sense of identity in older adolescents.

• Values and beliefs are often solidified during this stage.
• Independence increases equally many immature adults dissever from their parents to alive exterior their childhood homes.

• Established relationships with parents, siblings, and other family members may change in nature now that adulthood has virtually been reached.

• Thoughts may turn to the time to come and decisions may be based on their beliefs, desires, and hopes.

HealthPark Pediatrics is committed to providing our patients with a medical home from birth to age 21, and all the stages of adolescence in between. If you lot have questions well-nigh your kid’due south health or development call our Raleigh, NC function at (919) 896-7076 to make an appointment.