Why is adolescent stage very important

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.

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:. Do I really have to wear a condom during sex if my girlfriend takes the pill? 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 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:. 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. Children and their parents often struggle with changing dynamics of family relationships during adolescence.

But parents are still a critical support throughout this time. Help your child anticipate changes in his or her body. Learn about puberty and explain what's ahead. Reassure them that physical changes and emerging sexuality is part of normal, healthy development. Leave room for questions and allow children to ask them at their own pace. Talk to your pediatrician when needed! Start early conversations about other important topics.

Maintain open communication about healthy relationships , sex , sexuality, consent, and safety such as how to prevent sexually transmitted infection and pregnancy , and substance use. Starting these conversations during early adolescence will help build a good framework for discussions later.

Keep conversations with your child positive. Point out strengths. Celebrate successes. Be supportive and set clear limits with high but reasonable expectations. Communicate clear, reasonable expectations for curfews, school engagement, media use , and behavior, for example. At the same time, gradually expanding opportunities for more independence over time as your child takes on responsibility. Youth with parents that aim for this balance have been shown to have lower rates of depression and drug use.

Discuss risky behaviors such as sexual activity and substance use and their consequences. Resource Library. The Importance of Adolescence. Product: Fact Sheets. Article Details Download. Fact Sheet 1. Adolescence—A Foundation for Future Health. Fact Sheet 2. Adolescence and the Social Determinants of Health. Fact Sheet 3. Prevention Science in Adolescent Health. Focus Area Children, Youth, and Families. Then, as the testes and scrotum continue to enlarge, the penis gets longer.

Next, the penis will continue to grow in both size and length. In girls, the initial puberty change is the development of breast buds. This is when the breast and nipple elevate. The areola dark area of skin that surrounds the nipple of the breast increases in size at this time. The breasts then continue to enlarge. Eventually, the nipples and the areolas will elevate again. They then form another projection on the breasts. At the adult state, only the nipple remains elevated above the rest of the breast tissue.

Pubic hair development is similar for both girls and boys. The initial growth of hair produces long, soft hair that is only in a small area around the genitals. This hair then becomes darker and coarser as it continues to spread.

The pubic hair eventually looks like adult hair, but in a smaller area. It may spread to the thighs and, sometimes, up the stomach. The teenage years bring many changes, not only physically, but also mentally and socially. During these years, adolescents increase their ability to think abstractly and eventually make plans and set long-term goals. Each child may progress at a different rate and may have a different view of the world.