ADOLESCENT DEVELOPMENT

Age group 10 to 19 years Starts at 10 or 11 for girls 11 or 12 for boys

Cognitive Development Children think in concrete fashions Adolescents begin to develop more adult fashions of thinking starting at age 12. Usually by age 15 this adult cognition is fairly in place. Bullet 1- Children only think about things that he/she knows by direct experience and can’t plan into the future very effectively Bullet 2- It important to keep in mind that some adolescents develop more adult thinking quicker then others. However this type of mental development can continue into adulthood.

Cognitive Development The Key Features of Formal Thought are: Generate hypothesis Generate all possibilities from a specific situation Approach a problem in a systematic fashion Last Key “Combinatory Logic” is the ability to combine ideas to derive a conclusion

Physical Development Most commonly referred to as puberty Adult height and weight are reached Puberty should take about 3-6 years Bullet 1- Changes that occur during puberty serve as a passageway into physical maturity Bullet 4- Although in girls can be as old as 12 or 12 ½ and boys as old as 13 or 13 ½ before they begin puberty and that is normal too.

Physical Development Growth Spurt-regular pace throughout childhood. -explosion of growth happens for girls when they are into puberty about 2 years and for boys when they are into puberty for 2-3 years -They grow very rapidly for several months then growth slows way down Bullet 1- For example: a girl that is developing breast development by age 10-generally begins menstruation by age 12 ½ or 13 and is finished puberty by age 15. A boy who begins testicular enlargement and the appearance of pubic hair at age 12 should be finished with the whole process by 16 or 17 Bullet 2- After a child has his/her “growth spurt” they have about 2 inches of growth before reaching their final adult height

Physical Development Girl’s grow taller earlier then boys Girl’s start puberty earlier then boys Girls are physically mature in general 2 years earlier then boys A boy has to go through his “growth spurt” until he “puts on muscles”. Bullet 1- In middle school girls look like giants compared to boys but 3 years later they look very similar Bullet 4- A boy can lift all the weights he wants and will get stronger but until he finishes his height growth he will not become muscular

Female Changes Gains weight Grows body hair Periods start Breasts develop Shape changes Skin and hair change Becomes taller Male Changes Gains weight Grows body hair Penis and testicles develop Voice ‘breaks’ Shoulders broaden Skin and hair change Becomes taller

Emotional Development Adolescents have become sophisticated at regulated their emotions Adolescents are adapted at interpreting social situation as part of the process of managing emotional displays Adolescents develop a certain of expectations Children begin to break emotional ties with parents and develop them with friends Boys will start to regulate (hide) their emotions.

Emotional Development During adolescence (as early as age 10)….children begin to realize emotions aren’t as simple as they thought when they were children Boys are less likely to display emotions of fear as girls are Displays of empathy also increase during adolescence Bullet 1- They realize emotions of others are sometimes not externally obvious. They begin to understand that people can experience more then one emotion at a time and can have contradictory emotions at the same time as well. For example: An adolescent can feel happy for being picked for a team and at the same time be nervous about their responsibility to play well for that team.

Social Development Begin to form an organized system of personality traits Self concept-allows them to add new aspects of self-esteem (how they feel about their “self”). As confidence and self-awareness rises-they begin to form self-identity. More able to develop friendships that are based on loyalty . Bullet 1- These traits allow them to from self-concept Bullet 2- Self Concept is a set of attributes, abilities, attitudes and values that by which way an adolescent defines who they are Bullet 3- This sense of self helps them to feel more comfortable with others. How they develop as a person is based on their perception of those “organized character sketches” that I spoke about earlier. These sketches come together through new perspective taking and largely happens as a result of their social interactions. Bullet 4- This is different from when their younger friendships were based on mutual trust and assistance. Bullet 5- Social experiences allow them to take on new adult like behavior, as they are trying to function in a more grown up world.

Social Development Social time spent with family decreases by about half from 5th to 9th grade Then drops even more from 9th to 12th grade. Time spent with friends increases and time spent alone increases especially for boys.

Early Adolescence(12-14) Rapid Growth Confused by changes Curious about final outcome Personal interest in their own development Rebellion against home Acts in way that looks to be considerable maturity and in the next moment babyishness

Early Adolescence(12-14) Absorption with close friends of same age and gender Moodiness Sloppiness and Disorder Establishment of independence of self: Who am I? Body-conscious Appearance of Sexual Maturity Skin problems

Early Adolescence(12-14) Constantly hungry (more than in younger years) Companionship at meals and after school snacks provide dining pleasures) Sleeps more than during younger years Sleepy at “getting up” times Wants to sit up at nights as sign of increasing maturity Clash between physiology and culture

Middle Adolescence (15-16) Greatest experimental, risk taking time Drinking, drugs, smoking are often highest interest during the 14-16 years olds Striving for independence and autonomy is greatly increased Parental conflicts occur which need confrontation and resolution (these are normal and necessary) Adolescents confide in each other Testosterone increases are found in both boys and girls but much more abundant in boys

Late Adolescence (17-18) Rebellious Concerned with personal appearance Moody Establishment of ego identity-”where do I fit into the world” Growth finally subsided Full stature almost attained Sleep and food requirements approaching adult level

Issues that Teens Often Face Alcohol and Drug Use Injuries Sexual Behaviors Tobacco Use Skin Cancer Food Safety and Adolescents Nutrition Physical Activity Terrorism Youth Violence