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Adolescent Growth and Development
Author: Angela Huebner, Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist, Family and Child Development, Virginia Tech Publication Number 350-850, posted March 2000

Adolescence is a time of many transitions both for teens and their families. To ensure that teens and adults navigate these transitions successfully, it is important for both to understand what is happening to the teen physically, cognitively, and socially; how these transitions affect teens; what adults can do; and what support resources are available. As you read the following information, keep in mind that while all teens develop, they don't all follow the same time line.

What Is It?
During the teen years, adolescents experience changes in their physical development at a rate of speed unparalleled since infancy. Physical development includes:
 * Rapid gains in height and weight. During a one-year growth spurt, boys and girls can gain an average of 4.1 inches and 3.5 inches in height respectively. This spurt typically occurs two years earlier for girls than for boys. Weight gain results from increased muscle development in boys and body fat in girls.
 * Development of secondary sex characteristics. During puberty, changing hormonal levels play a role in activating the development of secondary sex characteristics. These include: (1) growth of pubic hair; (2) menarche (first menstrual period for girls) or penis growth (for boys); (3) voice changes (for boys); (4) growth of underarm hair; (5) facial hair growth (for boys); and (6) increased production of oil, increased sweat gland activity, and the beginning of acne.
 * Continued brain development. Recent research suggests that teens' brains are not completely developed until late in adolescence. Specifically, studies suggest that the connections between neurons affecting emotional, physical and mental abilities are incomplete. This could explain why some teens seem to be inconsistent in controlling their emotions, impulses, and judgments.

     Reflection/Summary During the teen years, adolescents experience changes in there physical development at a rate of speed unparalleled since infancy. Especially when their weight gain results from increased muscle development in boys and most of the fat in girls. Specifically, studies suggest that the connection between neurons affecting emotional, physical and mental abilities are incomplete Many teens don't developed until late in adolescence.

How Do These Changes Affect Teens?

 * Teens frequently sleep longer. Research suggests that teens actually need more sleep to allow their bodies to conduct the internal work required for such rapid growth. On average, teens need about 9 1/2 hours of sleep a night.
 * Teens may be more clumsy because of growth spurts. If it seems to you that teens' bodies are all arms and legs then your perception is correct. During this phase of development, body parts don't all grow at the same rate. This can lead to clumsiness as the teen tries to cope with limbs that seem to have grown overnight. Teens can appear ganly and uncoordinated.
 * Teenage girls may become overly sensitive about their weight. This concern arises because of the rapid weight gain associated with puberty. Sixty percent of adolescent girls report that they are trying to lose weight. A small percentage of adolescent girls (1-3%) become so obsessed with their weight that they develop severe eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia. Anorexia nervosa refers to starvation; bulimia refers to binge eating and vomiting.
 * Teens may be concerned because they are not physically developing at the same rate as their peers. Teens may be more developed than their peers ("early-maturers") or less developed than their peers ("late-maturers"). Being out of developmental "step" with peers is a concern to adolescents because most just want to fit in. Early maturation affects boys and girls differently. Research suggests that early maturing boys tend to be more popular with peers and hold more leadership positions. Adults often assume that early maturing boys are cognitively mature as well. This assumption can lead to false expectations about a young person's ability to take on increased responsibility. Because of their physical appearance, early maturing girls are more likely to experience pressure to become involved in dating relationships with older boys before they are emotionally ready. Early maturing girls tend to suffer more from depression, eating disorders, and anxiety.
 * Teens may feel awkward about demonstrating affection to the opposite sex parent. As they develop physically, teens are beginning to rethink their interactions with the opposite sex. An adolescent girl who used to hug and kiss her dad when he returned home from work may now shy away. A boy who used to kiss his mother good night may now wave to her on his way up the stairs.
 * Teens may ask more direct questions about sex. At this stage, adolescents are trying to figure out their sexual values. Teens often equate intimacy with sex. Rather than exploring a deep emotional attachment first, teens tend to assume that if they engage in the physical act, the emotional attachment will follow. They may ask questions about how to abstain without becoming embarrassed or about how they will know when the time is right. They may also have specific questions about methods of birth control and protection from sexually transmitted diseases.

<span style="COLOR: rgb(46,239,88)"><span style="COLOR: rgb(27,238,95)"> <span style="COLOR: rgb(31,239,58)">Reflection/Suammary

<span style="COLOR: rgb(233,7,140)"> <span style="COLOR: rgb(233,7,140)">Many Teens frequently sleep longer.Teens may also be very clumsy because most of the time they don't get much of asleep, many of them face these kind of problems because many of them are into drugs and alcohol and most of this problems also have to do with the lowest esteem each and every day teen face these kind of problems. Most of the problems that many teens are facing is not being able to communicate most of there problems to their parents because most of the time they are afraid to talk or they are always in fear of the way the parents are going to react. Most of these problems are number one in the U.S because most of the children are getting abuse or getting beatened up, and children including teens are affriad to speak up and they rather live in fear and never get out of the situation their going through. <span style="COLOR: rgb(244,81,246)"> copied from [|http://www.ext.vt.edu/pubs/family/350-850/350-850.html</span]>

<span style="COLOR: rgb(249,31,216)">What Can You Do?
Knowledge about what changes and behaviors during adolescence are normal can go a long way in helping both teens and adults manage the transition successfully. There are also some specific things adults can do to be supportive:
 * Don't criticize or compare the teens to others. Teens are already acutely self-conscious about the way they look. They don't need you to point it out to them.
 * Encourage teens to get enough sleep. Realize they may need an extra boost in getting out of bed for school. Try to be understanding when teens want to sleep until noon on Saturday.
 * Encourage and model healthy eating habits. Keep plenty of nutritious foods in the house. Remember that teens need to take in more calories to fuel their growth. Monitor eating habits accordingly.
 * Encourage and model physical activity. Exercise will help teens burn excess energy, strengthen developing muscles, and sleep better at night. It may also help teens become more comfortable in their changing bodies.
 * Provide honest answers to teens about sex. Teens are in search of knowledge on this subject. If adults do not provide accurate information, teens are forced to rely on their peers or other potentially inaccurate sources. Unfortunately, such erroneous information is often to blame when teens make poor decisions.
 * Be understanding of their need for physical space. Do not take it personally if your teen is not as physically affectionate as he or she was in the past. Do not force your teen to hug or kiss relatives or family friends. Maintain communication, but respect teens' need to withdraw.
 * Be patient with excessive grooming habits. Teens often spend large amounts of time grooming themselves and obsessing over skin care products. Often, this behavior merely reflects teens' attempts to maintain some sense of control over their rapidly changing bodies.

<span style="COLOR: rgb(82,250,97)">Reflection/Summary <span style="COLOR: rgb(235,5,198)">This passage is mainly about "Behaviors During the Adolesenes" it is about changes and behaviors during the teenage development. Many teens don't know that most of the time the brain is developing and most of the time we don't notice the change in our selfs because most of the time we are always focusing on what we do or what were' seeing. Many of this changes effect the brain system. What can we do? Well the first step that we can do is take care of our brains by not effecting in emotionly or by doing stupid things like smoking or drinking! Smoking and drinking is the most effective thing to effect the brain cells. Many teens don't realize how much they are hurting themselves by doing bad stuff!!! copied from  [|http://www.ext.vt.edu/pubs/family/350-850/350-850.html</span]  > <span style="COLOR: rgb(50,241,84)">

TEENAGE BRAIN CLIP....... =<span style="COLOR: rgb(50,241,84)"><span style="COLOR: rgb(39,236,86)"> = =    many teens don't realize that their are many ways to effect your brain many of the teens don't know that by getting depress or by thinking or being negative all the time can bring so many problems to the brain cells and that is what it      <span style="COLOR: rgb(50,241,84)"><span style="COLOR: rgb(39,236,86)">  = =<span style="COLOR: rgb(50,241,84)"><span style="COLOR: rgb(39,236,86)"> = =Oickle, Rod. "Left Vs. Right Brain." __teenage brain__. 30 May 2008 <http://teenagebrain.blogspot.com/>.= = = = =

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