Periods of Development

Adolescence
Adolescence can be a difficult time for many children. Going through puberty, starting middle/high school and developing their own self of self can be trying, so parental involvement is crucial to helping an adolescence navigate the world. Social and cultural aspects play a major role in an adolescene self-concept development. Children during this stage may decide to follow the crowd even if the behavior isnt acceptable, also they may decide to align their beliefs with their cultures or explore new beliefs. The chart below describes some developmental milestones during this time. Developmental Milestone Height spurt begins Adult stature reached Improves decision-making strategies Grasps logical necessity propositional thought Communicates clearly and in accord with social expectations Comprehends over 40,000 words Changes in self-conceptions Increase in time spent with peers Relationship between moral reasoning and behavior strengthen Delinquency rises, then declines (Berk, 2013) Type of Development Physical Physical Cognitive Cognitive Language Age of occurrence 8-13 years for girls, 10.5-16 years for boys 10-16 years for girls, 13.517.5 for boys 11-18 years of age 11-18 years of age 11+ years of age

Language Social-Emotional Social-Emotional Moral Reasoning/SelfRegulation Moral Reasoning/SelfRegulation

11+years of age 11+ years of age 11+ years of age 12+years of age

12+ years of age

Changes from puberty include body hair growth, development of breasts and menstrual periods in females and voice and body changes in males. The development of mental health issues can occur during adolescence as well. Changes in behavior such as isolation from friends, withdraw from previously enjoyed activities and extreme changes in eating/sleeping patters can all indicate abnormal mental health. Poor mental health can lead to risky sexual behaviors (SandbergThoma, 2014). While mental health changes are one sign of atypical development, another sign to look for is physical changes such as facial hair development in girls or the development of breasts in males.

(Child Trends) During this stage, while children tend to push away, parental involvement is crucial. Studies have shown that parental involvement is associated with achievement in adolescence (Hill & Tyson, 2009). Having a positive role model to help an adolescent find their inner self, express that self and navigate through the world can make all the difference when it comes to becoming a successful adult.

Review of Recommendations for Healthy Development Healthy diet, proper exercise and sleep Positive role model Positive parental involvement Look for mental health issues Freedom of expression Age/maturity appropriate responsibility Provide information/support during puberty

Resources Berk, L. E. (2013).Child development. (9th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson. Hill, N. E., & Tyson, D. F. (2009). Parental involvement in middle school: A metaanalytic assessment of the strategies that promote achievement. Developmental Psychology, 45(3), 740-763. doi:10.1037/a0015362 http://www.wbfn.org/Mosaic/Mosaic-FY12/March-2012/1-teens-03-12.html http://blog.childtrends.org/ Sandberg-Thoma, S. M. (2014). Casual Sexual Relationships and Mental Health in Adolescence and Emerging Adulthood. Journal Of Sex Research, 51(2), 121. doi:10.1080/00224499.2013.821440