According to Ecole Globale parents are likely to see some interesting changes in their pubescent child. Early adolescence becomes an exciting time for the kids, as their bodies experience physical as well as mental changes.
Pubescent become sensitive to their body changes and may
notice the changes in their peers. They may worry that they are different or
having some abnormality if they haven't hit a growth spurt yet. This time is
tough for parents as well, as they have to deal with their teen's not such
sensible worries and have to assure them that everyone develops at different
rates and it's normal for some child to mature faster than others.
DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONES
- PHYSICAL
DEVELOPMENT
Much pubescent deal with emotional and physical changes.
They become self-conscious, uncertain, moody and sensitive at times. At this
stage, it becomes more important than ever to fit in with peers.
Those boys who get physically mature earliest are more confident.
However, girls who mature earlier are often more self-conscious of their
bodies. Boys attain physical maturity during their late pubescence, and girls
become fully physically developed during mid-pubescence.
Rapid physical changes make teens self-conscious due to which they sometimes struggle with appearance-related issues like having acne
or being overweight, or body image issues like eating disorders.
MILESTONES:
- Anxiety
issues are due to changes happening at different rates.
- Experiencing
rapid physical changes
- Exhibit
a wide range of growth patterns.
PARENTING
ADVICE:
- Talk
to your child about body image and how you feel about his/her body
transitions.
- EMOTIONAL
DEVELOPMENT
Hormonal shifts in teens contribute to mood swings which may
seem to shift from minute to minute either due to school stress or peer
problems. They experience fluctuations in their self-esteem. One day they feel
good about themselves and on the other extremely inadequate. They tend to seek
affirmations from their parents if they are on the right track or not. However,
they also claim to want to do things on their own.
Young teens are on the road of becoming an adult’ having a
say’ over their space, body and in need for private conversations with their
peers. They become so self-centred that they might think everybody is staring
at them or may assume they are the reason for everyone else's indifferent
behaviour.
MILESTONES:
- Physical
development and appearance are major concerns.
- See
themselves as always being centre stage.
- Need
adult approval though strive for independence
PARENTING ADVICE:
- Depression,
anxiety and mental health issues may emerge during this time, so it’s
important to keep an eye on your child. Mood swings are usually normal
however.
- SOCIAL
DEVELOPMENT
Increased independence desires from their parents, make
teens rely more on friendships. They want to spend more time with their peers
than family. At times they show rebellious behaviour as they go through various
phases. Sometimes they dress differently or wear different hairstyles to
express themselves. In schools in India, students are able to express themselves in a friendly environment created.
Peer pressure is one major issue among teens as they want to
experience a sense of belonging. They often switch their peer groups as their
interest shifts. Dating and romance become important during the teen years.
Sexual interests also develop.
MILESTONES:
- Authority
figures are questioned.
- Seeks
Peer acceptance and trust.
- Tends
to reject the solution given by parents.
PARENTING
ADVICE:
- Sensitive
issues like drinking, drugs, smoking and sex should be discussed directly.
Acknowledge the slight upside that tempts your child to try these things.
By giving various examples, try to explain the consequences of taking
drugs, alcohol etc.
- COGNITIVE
DEVELOPMENT
Teens have fairly good problem-solving skills, but they have
difficulty in thinking about their future. They also struggle to think about
the consequences of their behaviour, which is due to the development of
different parts of the brain at different rates.
They also develop the ability to think abstractly and begin
to understand concepts such as faith and trust rather than just being
materialistic. They may even think they are unique, and no one understands
them. But as they mature, they begin to understand the world better and how
other people perceive them.
Most teens communicate in the same way as adults and become
less literal and begin to comprehend figurative languages and metaphors. They
are likely to believe that breaking rules under certain conditions aren't
always wrong. They may become more sensitive to moral issues.
Having fun with friends can be an important social outlet
for teens which may also help them in managing stress. While most pubescent
have given up their toys, they still play with their friends. They remain
active with their friends by enjoying parties, camping out in the backyard and
also indulging themselves in various sports activities.
MILESTONES:
- Justice
and equality are found to be important issues.
- Developing
skills in the use of logic
- Can
solve problems having more than one variable.
PARENTING
ADVICE:
- Talk
to your child about the various ways in which a problem can be solved.
Encourage your kid to brainstorm several solutions to a single problem before taking action. This will improve their critical thinking skills and
may enhance your child's judgement.
WHEN TO BE CONCERNED
While all children develop at different rates, it’s
important to keep an eye on how your child is progressing.
- In
early pubescent, some mental or emotional issues may arise, so it's
important to seek professional help if you see any sign.
- Hygiene
issues could be a cause for concern, as, at this age, teens should be able
to take care of their bodies without much prompting.
- If
the child struggles academically, it could be a cause of concern. Because sometimes learning disabilities or ADHD don't become apparent until teen years. If concerned, talk to your child's teacher or paediatrician.
CONCLUSION
Pubescent can be a bit of roller coaster for both child and
parents. But if parents are able to foster the skills of making the right
decisions in the child, then teen years don't have to be tumultuous.
Mistakes made by teens can be used as an opportunity to help
them sharpen their skills. However, if they repeatedly commit the same
mistakes, professional help should be taken.
This article is contributed by Ecole Globale International School.
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