Adolescence can be a rough time for a child. In addition to the rapid physical changes he experiences, he also has to deal with the hormonal changes in his body causing puberty to occur. Parents should keep a close eye on their teen's physical development while also remembering to be sensitive to his insecurities about his physical appearance during this time.
Time Frame
In general, adolescence occurs from the age of 12 to the age of 17 or 18. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention separates this period of life into early adolescence, occurring from 12 to 14, and middle adolescence, which is from age 15 to age 17.
Growth Spurt
Adolescents tend to experience a one-year growth spurt that causes them to change in physical appearance. The growth spurt can cause a boy to gain an average of 4.1 inches in height, while girls gain about 3.5 inches. While girls may not experience as significant a change in height during the growth spurt as boys do, they typically experience this change earlier than the boys their age, explains the Virginia Cooperative Extension. For girls, the growth spurt occurs around age 12, while boys experience the rapid change in height at around age 14.
Puberty
Secondary sex characteristics are likely the most significant physical change a teen will undergo during this stage of life. For girls, breasts may begin developing as early as the age of 8. Medline Plus reports that pubic hair typically begins to grow between the ages of 9 and 10, and a girl experiences her first period at the age of 12.5, on average.
Boys, on the other hand, experience most of their main pubescent changes a little later than girls. They'll see growth of both the testicles and the penis beginning around age 9, but pubic hair typically does not begin to grow until about age 12. Other changes associated with puberty in boys, according to Medline Plus, are nocturnal emissions, which occur regularly from the ages of 13 to 17, and a deepening of the voice.
Due to changing hormonal levels associated with puberty, both boys and girls will also experience oilier skin and increased sweat gland activity. Acne may also develop during this phase, says the Virginia Cooperative Extension.
Effects
Because of the rapid changes occurring in her body, an adolescent often becomes more concerned about her own body weight and shape. She may seek the approval of her peers by focusing on having the right clothes and looking a certain way, reports the CDC. Furthermore, the sudden and sometimes irregular growth spurts of an adolescent may cause her to experience awkward stages where coordination and physical mobility are compromised.
Considerations
Parents should keep a close eye on their teen's attitude towards personal appearance. Rapid weight gain can cause stress to a teen, and girls are especially vulnerable to eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia. Parents should be sensitive to a teen's concern over not developing at the same rate as his peers; developing earlier or later than his peers can cause anxiety and self-consciousness, says the Virginia Cooperative Extension.
