ADOLESCENTS

Aimeriel Buiza Angela Beatrice Dela Rosa Emman Ollica Nicole Cortez Kristel Racoma

ADOLESCENCE
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Adolescence is the developmental phase between childhood and adulthood characterized by rapid changes in physical, psychosocial, moral, and cognitive growth. There are 3 stages of adolescence: early (11-13 years), mid (14-16 years), and late (>17 years).

PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT
GIRLS

Girls may begin to develop breast buds as early as 8 years old. Breasts develop fully between ages 12 and 18. Pubic hair, armpit and leg hair usually begin to grow at about age 9 or 10, and reach adult patterns at about 13 to 14 years. Menarche (the beginning of menstrual periods) typically occurs about 2 years after early breast and pubic hair appear. It may occur as early as age 10, or as late as age 15. The average age of menstruation in the United States is about 12.5 years. Girls have a rapid growth in height between ages 9.5 and 14.5, peaking at around age 12.

BOYS

Boys may begin to notice that their testicles and scrotum grow as early as age 9. Soon, the penis begins to lengthen. By age 16 or 17, their genitals are usually at their adult size and shape. Pubic hair growth -- as well as armpit, leg, chest, and facial hair -- begins in boys at about age 12, and reaches adult patterns at about 15 to 16 years. Boys do not start puberty with a sudden incident, like the beginning of menstrual periods in girls. Having regular nocturnal emissions (wet dreams) marks the beginning of puberty in boys. Wet dreams typically start between ages 13 and 17, with the average at about 14.5 years. Boys' voices change at the same time as the penis grows. Nocturnal emissions occur with the peak of the height spurt.

COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT
EARLY ADOLESCENCE
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Children begin their teen years discovering their own personalities. Up until this point, many decisions have been made by parents, often with little or limited input from the child. During early adolescence, children are being allowed to use their thinking skills to make up their own minds about things.

Examples of choices that the early adolescent can successfully make include: What sport to play? Which groups of friends to join? How they want to dress and what hairstyle they prefer? What parental rules they feel should be changed and the reason behind their feelings?
Sometimes the views of the early adolescent are in direct opposition to the adult who cares for them and teen conflicts start brewing. Understanding this level of cognitive development in early adolescence allows for compromise on certain issues.

MIDDLE ADOLESCENCE - Middle adolescence can be trying for both the teen and the parent. This is the time when cognitive development is broadening and the teen thinks in more futuristic terms. Complex thinking skills are used to focus on how a teen views the world around him and where he fits into the picture. Examples of middle adolescent cognitive thinking include: Questioning and analyzing politics, sexual orientation, and career goals Developing personal code of ethics or moral standards Thinking more about life in the long term, visualizing past tomorrow Begins systematically making and influencing relationships Begins asking about what they want to be or who they really are

LATE ADOLESCENCE - During late adolescence, the complex thinking skills which have been developed are now used to focus on more global thoughts. The teen becomes less self-centered and more mature, looking at what his role is in the community. A teen now must figure out what kind of adult he will be and how he will fit into the adult world.

Examples of critical thinking in late adolescence include:

Career decisions and college choices Healthy living choices Idealistic views versus reality Developing personal views and intolerance for opposite opinions. Weighing parental Input

EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT

The major personality achievement of adolescence is the formation of an individual identity. Identity development is an ongoing process as teens "try out" various life possibilities. Adolescents explore and test ideas, values, morals, and religious and political beliefs. A firmly held conviction today may be totally discarded next week. They spend a significant amount of time daydreaming about their future. Adolescents who feel attached to their parents but also free to explore, develop and voice their own opinions, show greater emotional stability and higher self-esteem. Making and sustaining friendships is extremely important to adolescents. Teens report their most favorable moods when in the company of friends. The majority of teens are influenced by peer groups in short- term day to day matters such as clothing style, music, and choice of friends, while parents have more impact on basic life values and educational plans. The negative impact of having anti-social, drug-using friends is strongest for teenagers whose parents are either extremely lax and disinterested or very controlling and harsh.

MILESTONES
INDEPENDENCE In early adolescence, children want to break away from their parents. They prefer to spend time with friends than family. In mid adolescence, children are ambiguous about the separation, but by late adolescence your child should resolve these issues. BODY IMAGE In early adolescence, your child adjusts to pubescent changes. In mid adolescence, children "try on" different images to find their real self. By late adolescence, your child should develop a satisfying body image. RELATIONSHIPS In early adolescence, children hang around unisex friends. In mid adolescence your child will spend more time in a heterosexual peer group. By late adolescence, expect that individual relationships will become more important to your child than the peer group. CAREER PLANS In early and mid adolescence, career plans are vague. As your child enters late adolescence, specific goals and steps to implement these goals are present in your child's mind. VALUE SYSTEM Your early adolescent will test your moral system. Mid adolescents are self-centered. Late adolescents have a rigid concept of right and wrong, and are other-oriented. SEXUAL DRIVES Early adolescents are sexually curious, and by mid adolescence they may begin sexual experimentation. In late adolescence, however, they begin intimacy and caring.

DOSAGE

ADOLESCENTS