The teenage years between 13 to 18 years old marks the awkward transition period between childhood and adulthood.
Your children are in their chrysalis phase; they are going through some of the most important physical changes they will ever experience in their entire lives.
Often a tumultuous time for both parent and child, adolescence presents a unique challenge to the family in all respects.
They are now entering secondary school and putting on their adult training wheels.
Here’s what you should expect as your child goes through their teenage years.
Physical Development
From the ages of 13 to 18, your child will go through and complete their puberty.
Girls typically start earlier in their primary school phase, around 8 to 12.
Puberty for boys begins later, once they enter secondary school age.
Physical changes occur at this stage of life: breast development in girls and testicular enlargement and voice changes in boys.
Rapid changes in height and weight occur for both sexes; this is when the notorious teen growth spurt begins. Girls typically increase in body fat, while boys increase in muscle mass.
Ages 13 to 14
Puberty kicks into full overdrive.
Aside from the physical changes mentioned, your teen will also experience other challenges. Acne, body odour, pubic hair – the list is long.
While boys tend to get larger than girls, girls will typically outstrip boys in the height department at this stage.
Gross motor skills improve for both boys and girls. Your child will experience a rapid improvement in strength, balance, and coordination.
Their fine motor skills will improve too, including hand-eye coordination and dexterity. However, girls may show superior fine motor performance at this stage.
Your teen’s handwriting and drawing abilities, as well as their use of tools, become more precise.
Ages 15 to 16
In mid-adolescence, puberty typically progresses or concludes for both boys and girls.
Boys typically experience their fastest growth spurt at this age range, growing taller and taller.
Other secondary sex characteristics start to become more and more apparent for both sexes. Boys will start growing facial hair, and girls will develop larger, fuller breasts.
In other areas of physical development, teens will experience improved athletic performance.
They will now be able to engage in complex sports, showing enhanced coordination, speed, and strength.
Ages 17 to 18
This period marks the end of puberty for most teens. Your child’s body has reached peak physical maturity.
They have now achieved the height and body proportions of their adult selves.
They can now use their gross and fine motor skills with minimal conscious effort.
Your teen is now a young adult with high-level coordination and motor control.
They have achieved pretty much all physical milestones they could ever achieve as a human.
From hereon out, acquiring new physical and technical skills for jobs becomes easier with practice.
Cognitive Development
Just like with their physical development, teens experience the height of their cognitive potential during adolescence.
Their brain fully matures, and they are now able to take in, learn and create new information.
It is now not just about absorbing or experiencing but about solving problems, creating strategies and experimenting with new ideas.
Ages 13 to 14
During these ages, your child experiences significant improvements in attention, working memory, and processing speed.
These enhancements support better problem-solving and decision-making abilities.
The prefrontal cortex, responsible for executive functions like planning and impulse control, undergoes substantial development.
The brain clears out unused connections and strengthens important ones, helping it work faster and more efficiently.
However, adolescents exhibit heightened sensitivity to rewards and peer influence due to these new brain changes. This can oftentimes lead to increased risk-taking behaviours.
Ages 15 to 16
By mid-adolescence, cognitive abilities such as logical reasoning and information processing approach adult levels.
When in calm situations, your child can make sound decisions.
However, your child is still developing their impulse control and risk assessment. When in emotionally charged situations, they may still act recklessly.
Their refinement of various skills continues to improve. Some teens master keyboarding, technical drawing, musical instruments, etc.
Ages 17 to 18
Late adolescence is marked by refined executive functions.
This includes improved planning, abstract thinking, and self-regulation. These developments are associated with continued maturation of the brain.
Adolescents enhance their ability to understand others’ perspectives and social cues. Your child is now able to contribute to more sophisticated interpersonal interactions.
Although many cognitive functions reach adult levels, your teen may not reach full maturation of the brain until their 20s.
Emotional Development
The teen years are some of the most challenging years that your child will go through. It is more important than ever to be kind, patient and understanding.
They are thrust from a relatively peaceful and innocent world of childhood into the harsh realities of adult life.
Bodily changes, identity crises, sexual awakenings, peer pressure, academic demands.
Ages 13 to 14
Teens in this age group exhibit heightened sensitivity to peer presence. Being around people their age can increase impulsive and risk-taking behaviours.
Your child has fully transitioned from seeking approval from adults to seeking validation from their peers.
This is part of their journey in discovering their own social identity.
Ages 15 to 16
At these ages, your teen would have learned a thing or two about managing their emotions. How well they do this will directly reflect how well their relationships with other people are.
If your child does not have any sexual interest in the opposite sex, they will start showing signs soon.
Teens at this period may also be prone to anxiety and depression as a result of stress and social pressure. It is important to be there for them as a parent when they need you.
In terms of risk-taking, your child is still susceptible to the influence of their peers. They may engage in reckless activities. Remind them of the dangers of drugs and unprotected intercourse.
Ages 17 to 18
By the time your teen reaches the end of their teen years, their emotional intelligence will have improved tremendously.
They can now understand complex social situations and can form more mature interpersonal relationships.
This marks an important milestone in their own lives as they prepare for more serious romantic and long-term relationships in the future.
The Beginning of a New Stage
From childhood to adolescence and now to young adulthood, your child is no longer so little.
They may not be a kid anymore, but that doesn’t mean you stop being their parent.
While they may now need you less and less, your guidance, wisdom and love remain essential in their journey towards the next phase of their life.
Whether that’s going to college, getting a job, getting married and yes, even when your child becomes a parent themselves.
You have done an amazing job, mums and dads! Now, it’s time to sit back, relax and allow your child to spread their wings and become the amazing human being you raised them to be.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as medical advice from Motherhood. For any health-related concerns, it is advisable to consult with a qualified healthcare professional or medical practitioner.
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