Helping You Through Life's Transitions
Growing up is hard. The transition between childhood and adulthood is not easy. There are key developmental changes that nearly all adolescents experience during their transition from childhood to adulthood. I can help you with those changes and help you set a path to help you navigate for life's transitions. Adolescence is a stage between the teenage years and the time one takes to develop into an adult. These are not just physical changes, such as the onset of puberty, but emotional changes as well.
This table illustrates that adolescence is one of the most dynamic stages of human growth and development.*
| Stages of Adolescence | Physical Development | Cognitive Development | Social-Emotional Development |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early Adolescence Approximately 11 – 13 years of age | Puberty: grow body hair, increase perspiration and oil production in hair and skin Girls – breast and hip development, onset of menstruation Boys – growth in testicles and penis, wet dreams, deepening of voice Tremendous physical growth: gain height and weight | Growing capacity for abstract thought Mostly interested in present with limited thought to the future Intellectual interests expand and become more important Deeper moral thinking | Struggle with sense of identity Feel awkward about one’s self and one’s body; worry about being normal Realize that parents are not perfect; increased conflict with parents Increased influence of peer group Desire for independence Tendency to return to “childish” behavior, particularly when stressed Moodiness Rule- and limit-testing Greater interest in privacy Growing sexual interest |
| Middle Adolescence Approximately 14 – 18 years of age | Puberty is completed Physical growth slows for girls, continues for boys | Continued growth of capacity for abstract thought Greater capacity for setting goals Interest in moral reasoning Thinking about the meaning of life | Intense self-involvement, changing between high expectations and poor self-concept Continued adjustment to changing body, worries about being normal Tendency to distance selves from parents, continued drive for independence Driven to make friends and greater reliance on them, popularity can be an important issue Feelings of love and passion Increased sexual interest |
| Late Adolescence Approximately 19 – 24 years of age | Young women, typically, are physically fully developed Young men continue to gain height, weight, muscle mass, and body hair | Ability to think ideas through from beginning to end Ability to delay gratification Examination of inner experiences Increased concern for future Continued interest in moral reasoning | Firmer sense of identity, including sexual identity Increased emotional stability Increased concern for others Increased independence and self-reliance Peer relationships remain important Development of more serious relationships Social and cultural traditions regain some of their importance |
- Kaplan, P. S. (2004). Adolescence. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company.
*Chart and content reference on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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