2. The Teen Years: Growth and Development5
The Teen Years: Growth and Development

3. The Teen Years: Growth and Development
Teenage years are the bridge to independent adulthood
Children highly anticipate becoming teens
All areas of growth and development are significantly interrelated
There is a great deal of variation in the development of teens

4. Compare the rate of growth during adolescence to previous periods of development.
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5. Physical Growth and Development
Rate of physical growth and development from ages 13 to 18 are second only to that during infancy
Puberty begins when the pituitary gland signals the endocrine system to release hormones

6. Understanding Adolescent Growth and Development
Growth spurts can cause adolescents to grow as much as four inches in a year
Teens may look and feel uncoordinated because of asynchrony
Hormone shifts trigger sexual development
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7. Understanding Adolescent Growth and Development
Girls:
Breast development
Menstruation
Boys:
Voice changes
Larger gains in height and weight
Broader shoulders, muscle mass
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8. Understanding Adolescent Growth and Development
Growth continues after sexual maturity is reached
The heart doubles in size and lung capacity increases, resulting in greater strength and endurance
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9. Coping with Physical Changes
Timing is highly individual
Adults may have unrealistic expectations of early developers, who they perceive as adults
Late developers feel left behind
Self-conscious teens imagine everyone is paying attention to them
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10. Coping with Physical Changes
Egocentrism causes them to focus excessively on appearance
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11. Coping with Physical Changes
Body image is a major concern
Negative body image can lead to unhealthful habits
Teens may spend a great deal of time with
diet and exercise
grooming
hair
clothing

12. How might your experiences as an adolescent help you better understand your future teenage pupils?
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13. Analyze the thinking skills commonly required of teens in school.
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14. Cognitive Development
Significant changes occur in brain development during the teen years
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15. Developing Abstract Thinking
Young teens are in the concrete operational stage
They move into the formal operational stage
Abstract thinking includes the abilities to
grasp abstract concepts
think about the future
consider consequences of multiple potential solutions to problems
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16. Developing Abstract Thinking
Abstract thinking includes the abilities to
figure out why things are the way they are
understand complex math problems
think critically about a person’s own thinking (metacognition)
Younger teens still use concrete thinking
Abstract thinking leads to better problem solving

17. What are some examples of ways you have used abstract thinking today?
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18. Understanding the Adolescent Brain
The teen years are a window of opportunity to strengthen neural connections
This happens through activities that repeatedly stimulate the brain
Inactivity wastes this opportunity
Brain development may play a significant role in teen mood swings

19. Meeting School Challenges
Teens learn best through activities linked to real life
Classes require a rapid pace, more complex learning, and more independent learning
Multitasking may have a negative impact on students’ academic performance

20. Setting Goals for the Future
Students begin to think seriously about career goals
They begin to understand long-term effects of their decisions
They may have inflated, unrealistic plans

21. Identify the social skills teens need to develop for adult success and devise strategies for teaching one such skill.
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22. Social-Emotional Development
Teens define their importance as individuals
Movement toward independence
increases importance of peer relationships
may put strain on teen-parent relationships

23. What influences your behavior more: your parents or your peers
What influences your behavior more: your parents or your peers? Why do you think this is the case?
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24. Redefining Self Teens begin to This includes sexual identity
question who they are
establish a personal identity independent of parents
This includes sexual identity
Adults can reinforce positive self-concepts
Redefining self continues into early adulthood

25. Moving Toward Independence
Hormones trigger the drive toward autonomy
Teens also look to adults outside the family for acceptance and advice
Teens may feel fully mature, but their confidence may lessen outside of high school
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26. Moving Toward Independence
Young teens still need rules and limits
These are gradually loosened as teens prove they are reliable and trustworthy
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27. Refining Relationships
Relationships change significantly during adolescence:
Peer relationships
Romantic relationships
Family relationships
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28. Peer Relationships For young teens, popularity is important
mistakes feel like major disasters
it is easier to blame the group instead of taking personal responsibility
friendships may change with frequency
fads are common
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29. Peer Relationships Older teens form closer, long-lasting friendships
choose friends based on personality, character, common interests
may find social acceptance and leadership opportunities in extracurricular activities

30. Romantic Relationships
Young teens may feel shy and awkward with the opposite sex
They begin by socializing in groups
Male clusters
Female clusters
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31. Romantic Relationships
May be some pairing off, but group dating is common
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32. Romantic Relationships
Older teens may
form couple relationships
decide to delay sexual relationships or become sexually active
stay in a hurtful or even abusive relationship

33. Family Relationships Teen years are difficult for parents and teens
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34. Family Relationships
Teens must learn skills needed to become independent adults
Parents must gradually give teens more freedom and less supervision
Parents must balance between needs for safety and independence
Peers become more influential than family

35. Do you agree that teen years are difficult for parents and teens
Do you agree that teen years are difficult for parents and teens? How have you overcome difficulties in your family?
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36. Dealing with Emotional Challenges
Changes result in confusion and anxiety
Coping methods include
sports and activities
diaries and journals
developing resilience

37. Discuss examples of how resilience can help teens cope with emotional changes.
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38. Identify the impact of various influences that impact teens’ development of personal values.
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39. Moral Development Teens move from concrete to abstract thinking
They begin to think in terms of being morally wrong instead of the consequences of punishment
They may see moral decisions in all-or-nothing terms
Older teens are often idealistic and concerned with their impact on the world

40. Establishing Personal Values
Teens must decide for themselves what type of people to be
They may question existing values, reexamining parents’ and society’s beliefs, rules, and laws
Teens develop more empathy and satisfaction in helping others

41. Understanding Risk-Taking Behaviors
Teens often have a feeling of invincibility
High-risk behaviors give teens a feeling of independence and control
Brain development that regulates judgment and self-control may not yet be complete
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42. Understanding Risk-Taking Behaviors
Other characteristics associated with high-risk behaviors include
low self-esteem
struggles in school
negative peer influence
lack of parent-teen communication
lack of parental supervision

43. Have you ever experienced a feeling of invincibility
Have you ever experienced a feeling of invincibility? Why do you think this was the case?
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44. Physical changes during puberty can be difficult for teens to handle
Teens begin abstract thinking
Social-emotional development is especially challenging as teens become independent

45. thinking critically about a person’s own thinking
What is metacognition?
thinking critically about a person’s own thinking
____ is independence that includes personal responsibility and decision making.
Autonomy
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46. Why is resilience a positive way of coping?
It helps teens bounce back after a defeat or setback.
What characteristics are associated with teens who are likely to engage in high-risk behavior?
low self-esteem, struggling in school, negative peer influence, low parent-teen communication, lack of parental supervision