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Early Adolescence (Ages 10 To 13) : Females Males

Early adolescence between ages 10-13 involves the beginning of puberty which brings physical changes like growth and development that cause anxiety. Mentally, pre-teens' thinking becomes more egocentric and "black-and-white" as they desire more independence and privacy. Middle adolescence from 14-17 continues physical maturation and increases interest in relationships while mental processing improves slightly but is still emotional. Late adolescence 18-21 involves fully mature physiques and better decision making as identities form and independence from family grows.

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Bea Valerie Grisler
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237 views5 pages

Early Adolescence (Ages 10 To 13) : Females Males

Early adolescence between ages 10-13 involves the beginning of puberty which brings physical changes like growth and development that cause anxiety. Mentally, pre-teens' thinking becomes more egocentric and "black-and-white" as they desire more independence and privacy. Middle adolescence from 14-17 continues physical maturation and increases interest in relationships while mental processing improves slightly but is still emotional. Late adolescence 18-21 involves fully mature physiques and better decision making as identities form and independence from family grows.

Uploaded by

Bea Valerie Grisler
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Early Adolescence (Ages 10 to 13)

 During this stage, children often start to grow more quickly. They also begin notice
other body changes, including hair growth under the arms and near the genitals, breast
development in females and enlargement of the testicles in males. They usually start a
year or two earlier in girls than boys, and it can be normal for some changes to start as
early as age 8 for females and age 9 for males. Many girls may start their period at
around age 12, on average 2-3 years after the onset of breast development.

 These body changes can inspire curiosity and anxiety in some―especially if they do
not know what to expect or what is normal. Some children may also question
their gender identity at this time, and the onset of puberty can be a difficult time
for transgender children. 

 Early adolescents have concrete, black-and-white thinking. Things are either right or
wrong, great or terrible, without much room in between.  It is normal at this stage for
young people to center their thinking on themselves (called "egocentrism").  As part of
this, preteens and early teens are often self-conscious about their appearance and feel as
though they are always being judged by their peers.

 Pre-teens feel an increased need for privacy.  They may start to explore ways of being
independent from their family. In this process, they may push boundaries and may react
strongly if parents or guardians reinforce limits.

Middle Adolescence (Ages 14 to 17)


 Physical changes from puberty continue during middle adolescence.  Most males will
have started their growth spurt, and puberty-related changes continue. They may have
some voice cracking, for example, as their voices lower.  Some develop acne. Physical
changes may be nearly complete for females, and most girls now have regular periods.
 At this age, many teens become interested in romantic and sexual relationships.
They may question and explore their sexual identity―which may be stressful if they do
not have support from peers, family, or community. Another typical way of exploring sex
and sexuality for teens of all genders is self-stimulation, also called masturbation.
 Many middle adolescents have more arguments with their parents as they struggle
for more independence. They may spend less time with family and more time with
friends. They are very concerned about their appearance, and peer pressure may peak at
this age.   
 The brain continues to change and mature in this stage, but there are still many
differences in how a normal middle adolescent thinks compared to an adult. Much
of this is because the frontal lobes are the last areas of the brain to mature―development
is not complete until a person is well into their 20s! The frontal lobes play a big role in
coordinating complex decision making, impulse control, and being able to consider
multiple options and consequences. Middle adolescents are more able to think abstractly
and consider "the big picture," but they still may lack the ability to apply it in the
moment.  For example, in certain situations, kids in middle adolescence may find
themselves thinking things like:
o "I'm doing well enough in math and I really want to see this movie… one night of
skipping studying won't matter."
o Do I really have to wear a condom during sex if my girlfriend takes the pill?"
o "Marijuana is legal now, so it can't be that bad."

While they may be able to walk through the logic of avoiding risks outside of these situations,
strong emotions often continue to drive their decisions when impulses come into play.

Late Adolescents (18-21… and beyond!)


Late adolescents generally have completed physical development and grown to their full adult
height. They usually have more impulse control by now and may be better able to gauge risks
and rewards accurately. In comparison to middle adolescents, youth in late adolescence might
find themselves thinking:

o "While I do love Paul Rudd movies, I need to study for my final."


o "I should wear a condom…even though my girlfriend is on birth control, that's
not 100% in preventing pregnancy."
o "Even though marijuana is legal, I'm worried about how it might affect my mood
and work/school performance."

Teens entering early adulthood have a stronger sense of their own individuality now and can
identify their own values. They may become more focused on the future and base decisions on
their hopes and ideals. Friendships and romantic relationships become more stable. They become
more emotionally and physically separated from their family. However, many reestablish an
"adult" relationship with their parents, considering them more an equal from whom to ask advice
and discuss mature topics with, rather than an authority figure.  

Ages 10 to 13: Early Adolescence

Physical Growth & Development

 Puberty for many children and pre-teens begins during this stage of
adolescence.

 Pre-teens experience both physical growth and sexual development, which


can be uncomfortable for pre-teens and teens.
 Body changes during early adolescence may include developing hair under
the arms and in the pubic area, testicular enlargement in males, and breast
development in females.

 Changes usually start happening earlier for females than for males. Females
may start developing a year or two ahead of boys in most cases.

 Changes can start as early as age 8 in females and age 9 for males but can
become more noticeable at the onset of adolescence.

Mental & Emotional Development

 Pre-teens and teens begin to assert more independence as they move


through the stages of adolescence. This means they may rebel, especially
when parents reinforce rules and set limits.

 Children of this age group often have an increased need for privacy,
another sign of wanting more independence and less supervision.

 They may also require more privacy to deal with the curiosity and anxiety
that come with body changes and new feelings.

 In this phase, children may notice or start to question their gender identity.
This is something that may continue throughout or even beyond the
stages of adolescence.

 It’s common for pre-teens to become more focused on themselves, or a bit


egocentric. Their thoughts and feelings are centered on themselves,
making them self-conscious. 

 At this point, kids start feeling like they are always being judged by people,
especially their peers.

 At this point in adolescence, children have a very “black-and-white”


thought process. Something is either right or wrong, with no room for
other interpretation. They see things as either amazing or awful, rarely ever
just “okay.”

Ages 14 to 17: Middle Adolescence


Physical Development

Changes from puberty are still happening in teens during middle adolescence.

 Physical changes in females may have slowed down or finished, but by this
age most will start having regular menstrual periods.

 Most males will have started their pubescent growth spurt

 Male’s voices begin to lower and there may be a period where the voice
cracks.

 Acne develops in both males and females.

Mental & Emotional Development

 As the brain continues to develop, thought processes mature during this


time, however, they still do not process things like adults yet.
o The frontal lobes are the last parts of the brain to develop and are
not fully mature by this stage. The frontal lobes are responsible for
complex decision making, judgment, impulse control, and
considering the consequences of actions.

 Teens at this age may be able to start thinking in the abstract and start
seeing the bigger picture rather than the specifics of one situation. They
can use logic, but are still primarily driven by emotion.

 Teens of this age start feeling interested in romantic and sexual


relationships.

 Exploration of their sense of identity as well as beliefs and values is


common. Some teens want to fit in with their peers while others want to
assert their individuality.

Ages 18 to 21: Late Adolescence

Physical Development
During late adolescence, physical development has been completed for most
young people. Most people have grown to their full adult heights.

Mental & Emotional Development

The brain is completing its development during late adolescence. However, the
frontal lobe will not fully develop until around age 25. That’s why some people
consider late adolescence to be ages 18 to 24.

 Young people in this age range usually have better impulse control and
decision-making skills than in middle adolescence. Risks and rewards are
more accurately evaluated.

 There is a stronger sense of identity in older adolescents.

 Values and beliefs are often solidified during this stage.


 Independence increases as many young adults separate from their parents
to live outside their childhood homes.

 Established relationships with parents, siblings, and other family members


may change in nature now that adulthood has nearly been reached.

 Thoughts may turn to the future and decisions may be based on their
beliefs, desires, and hopes.

HealthPark Pediatrics is committed to providing our patients with a medical


home from birth to age 21, and all the stages of adolescence in between. If you
have questions about your child’s health or development call our Raleigh, NC
office at (919) 896-7076 to make an appointment.

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