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Child Development |
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Middle
Adolescence (15-17 years old)
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Developmental Milestones
Middle
adolescence is a time of physical, mental, cognitive, and sexual
changes for your teenager. Most girls will be physically mature by
now, and most will have completed puberty. Boys might still be
maturing physically during this time. Your teenager might have
concerns about her body size, shape, or weight. Eating disorders can
also be common, especially among females. During this phase of
development, your teenager is developing his unique personality and
opinions. Peer relationships are still important, yet your teenager
will have other interests as he develops a more clear sense of
identity. Middle adolescence is also an important time to prepare
for more independence and responsibility; many teenagers start
working, and many will be leaving home soon after high school.
Other changes you might notice in your teenager include:
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Emotional/Social Changes
- Increased interest in the opposite sex
- Decreased conflict with parents
- Increased independence from parents
- Deeper capacity for caring and sharing and the development of more
intimate relationships
- Decreased time spent with parents and more time spent with peers
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Mental/Cognitive Changes
- More defined work habits
- More concern about future educational and vocational plans
- Greater ability to sense right and wrong
- Sadness or depression, which can lead to poor grades at
school, alcohol or drug use, unsafe sex, thoughts of suicide,
and other problems (Note: Problems at school, alcohol and drug
use, and other disorders can also lead to feelings of sadness or
hopelessness.)
(Adapted with permission from Bright Futures: Green M, Palfrey
JS, editors. Bright Futures Family Tip Sheets: Early Adolescence.
Arlington (VA): National Center for Education in Maternal and Child
Health, 2001. Other sources: American Academy of Child and Family
Psychiatry and the American Academy of Pediatrics)
Positive Parenting Tips for Healthy
Child Development
- Talk to your teenager about her concerns and pay attention
to any changes in her behavior. Ask her if she has had suicidal
thoughts, particularly if she seems sad or depressed. Asking
about suicidal thoughts will not cause her to have these
thoughts, but it will let her know that you care about how she
feels. Seek professional help if necessary.
- Show interest in your teenager’s school and extracurricular
interests and activities and encourage him to become involved in
activities such as sports, music, theater, and art.
- Compliment your teenager and celebrate her efforts and
accomplishments.
- Show affection for your teenager. Spend time together doing
things you enjoy.
- Respect your teenager’s opinion. Listen to him without
playing down his concerns.
- Encourage your teenager to volunteer and become involved in
civic activities in her community.
- Encourage your teenager to develop solutions to problems or
conflicts. Help your teenager learn to make good decisions.
Create opportunities for him to use his own judgment, and be
available for advice and support.
- If your teenager engages in interactive Internet media such
as games, chat rooms, and instant messaging, encourage him to be
disciplined and respectful about the amount of time she is
involved with it.
- If your teenager works, use the opportunity to talk about
expectations, responsibility, and other aspects of behaving
respectfully in a public setting.
- Talk with your teenager and help him plan ahead for
difficult or uncomfortable situations. Discuss what he can do if
he is in a group and someone is using drugs, under pressure to
have sex, or offered a ride from someone who has been drinking.
- Respect your teenager’s need for privacy.
- Encourage your teenager to get enough sleep and exercise,
and to eat healthy, balanced meals.
- Encourage your teenager to have meals with the family.
Eating together will help your teenager make better choices
about the foods she eats, promote healthy weight, and give
family members time to talk with each other. In addition, a
teenager who eats meals with the family is more likely to have
better grades and less likely to smoke, drink, or use drugs. She
is also less likely to get into fights, think about suicide, or
engage in sexual activity.
Safety First
Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death from
unintentional injury among teenagers, yet few teenagers take
measures to reduce their risk of injury. Unintentional injuries
resulting from participation in sports and other activities are also
common.
- Talk with your teenager about the importance of wearing a
seatbelt while driving. Insist that she obey speed limits and
traffic lights, and strongly advise her not to drink and drive.
Set clear rules for when and where she can use the car, and who
can ride with her.
- Encourage your teenager to wear a helmet when riding a bike,
motorcycle, or all-terrain vehicle.
- Suicide is the third leading cause of death among youth 15
through 24 years of age. Talk with your teenager about suicide
and pay attention to warning signs.
- Talk with your teenager about the dangers of drugs,
drinking, smoking, and risky sexual activity. Ask him what
he knows and thinks about these issues, and share with him your
feelings. Listen to what he says and answer his questions
honestly and directly.
- Discuss with your teenager the importance of choosing
friends who do not act in dangerous or unhealthy ways.
- Know where your teenager is and whether an adult is present.
Make plans with her for when she will call you, where you can
find her, and what time you expect her home.
Links For Parents
The
American Academy of Pediatrics has brochures, fact sheets, and
other information on various health topics for parents with children
of all ages.
CDC’s Division of Adolescent and School Health has a Healthy Youth!
webpage that addresses six critical types of adolescent health
behavior that contribute to the leading causes of death and
disability among adults and youth. The website’s A to Z list
addresses other issues that affect children and adolescents.
The
National Center on Injury Prevention and Control at CDC has a
website that contains information like youth violence, suicide, teen
drivers, sexual violence, and other injury-related topics.
KidsHealth by the Nemours Foundation has practical information
for parents, teens, and kids.
The
American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry has
fact sheets for parents on various issues related to child and
adolescent development.
Talk With Your Kids is a national initiative by
Children Now and the
Kaiser Family Foundation to encourage parents to talk with their
children early and often about tough issues like
sex,
HIV/AIDS,
violence, and
alcohol and
drug abuse.
The National
Institute of Mental Health and the
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration have
information and resources on child and adolescent mental health.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has
information on safety recalls, and safety tips for children riding
in motor vehicles, walking, biking, playing outside, waiting at
school bus stops, and more.
[Return to Top]
Date:
March 11, 2009
Content source: National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental
Disabilities
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