Teenagers going through puberty will experience a variety of physical changes as well as advancements in their social and emotional development. Kids have growth spurts associated with puberty at a variety of ages: The average age at which girls begin their sexual development is 12, and between the ages of 10 and 14, they have a growth spurt. Most guys begin to develop sexually between the ages of 10 and 13 and continue to do so until they are about 16 years old. What Will My Adolescent’s Growth Be Like? Adolescence is another name for the adolescent years. Growth spurts and changes connected to puberty occur during the adolescent years. An adolescent may gain several inches in a few months, and then experience very slow development for a while before experiencing another growth spurt. Puberty-related changes (sexual maturation) may happen gradually or show numerous indications at once. These maturational indicators appear for some youngsters earlier or later than for others. What Alterations Take Place During Puberty? Hormonal changes during puberty are the cause of sexual maturity and other bodily changes. It might be challenging to predict the exact timing of puberty in guys. There are changes, but they frequently take place gradually rather than all at once. Girls experience puberty as a series of events. Every girl is different and may go through these changes differently. Below are the average ages at which pubertal changes can occur: The onset of puberty: 8 to 13 years First pubertal change: breast development Pubic hair development: just after breast development Armpit hair: 12 years old Menstrual periods: average 12 years old; Normal range is 10 to 15 years old Boys also experience puberty as a series of events that typically begin later than girls. While every male adolescent is different, the following are the average ages at which pubertal changes can occur: The onset of puberty: 9 to 14 years old First pubertal change: enlargement of the testicles Penis Enlargement: About a year after the testicles start to enlarge Pubic hair development: 13.5 years old Nocturnal Emissions (or “Wet Dreams”): 14 years old Facial and armpit hair, voice changes and acne: 15 years old What does my youngster understand? The teenage years bring many changes, not only physically but also mentally and socially. During these years, adolescents improve their ability to think abstractly and eventually make plans and set long-term goals. Each child can progress at different rates and have a different perspective on the world. In general, the following skills are some of the skills that may be evident in your youngster: Think more abstractly Deals with philosophy, politics and social issues Think long term Set goals Compares himself to his peers As your youngster begins to seek independence and control, many changes can occur. The following are some issues that may arise during adolescence: Development of independence from parents Peer influence and acceptance become important Romantic or sexual relationships become important May show long-term commitment to the relationship How to communicate with a teenager Teenagers communicate much like adults, with increasing maturity during high school. As teenagers seek independence from family and establish their own identities, they begin to think abstractly and engage with moral issues. All of this shapes the way they think and communicate. During this time, teenagers spend much of the day outside the home – at school or on extracurricular activities or jobs with their friends. But it’s important that you try to talk to your teen every day to share opinions, ideas, and information. Here are a few tips to help you communicate with your teen: Make time during the day or evening to catch up on your teen’s activities. Make sure he or she knows you are actively interested and listening carefully. Remember to talk to your teen, not just him. Ask questions that go beyond “yes” or “no” answers to encourage a more developed conversation. Use the time during car journeys to talk to your teen. Make time for sporting and school events, play games, and talk about current events. Language development in adolescents Adolescents should be able to grasp word meanings and context, understand punctuation and form complex syntactic structures (how words are put together). However, communication is more than using and understanding words – it also involves how teenagers think about themselves, their peers and authority figures. Explanations can become more figurative and less literal. Young people will also understand abstract and figurative language such as similes, metaphors and idioms. How can I help my youth develop socially? Consider the following ways to develop your youngster’s social skills: Encourage your youth to take on new challenges. Talk to your youth about not losing sight of each other in group relationships. Encourage your teen to talk to a trusted adult about a problem or concern, even if they don’t want to talk to you. Discuss ways to deal with and manage stress. Provide consistent, loving discipline with appropriate boundaries, limitations, and rewards. Find ways to spend time together. Fitness for teenagers from 13 to 18 years As children enter their teenage years, they may lose interest in physical activity. Between school, homework, friends, and even part-time jobs, they juggle many interests and responsibilities. But regular physical activity can help your teen feel more energetic, improve focus and attention, and promote a better outlook. Regular physical activity can also help your teen maintain a healthy weight and prevent heart disease, diabetes, and other medical problems that may arise later in life. Teenage fitness Physical activity guidelines for teens recommend that they get at least 1 hour of moderate to vigorous physical activity every day. Additionally: Most physical activity should be aerobic, engaging large muscles and lasting for a period of time. Examples of aerobic activities are running, swimming and dancing. Any moderate to vigorous activity counts towards the 60-minute goal. Teens can be active in sports and structured exercise programs that include muscle and bone strengthening activities. If your teen is interested in strength training, it should be done under the supervision of a qualified adult. Motivate young people to be active Parents should give teens control over how they choose to be physically active. Emphasize that that’s not what they do – they just have to be active. Given the opportunity and interest, teens can reap health benefits from almost any activity they enjoy — skateboarding, touch soccer, yoga, swimming, or dancing. All teenagers should limit the time they spend in sedentary activities such as watching TV, playing video games, and using computers, smartphones, or tablets. Motivating teens to swap sedentary activities for physical activity can be the hardest part. However, once teenagers begin physical activity, many enjoy the sense of well-being, reduced stress, and increased strength and energy that exercise gives them. As a result, some begin exercising regularly without prodding from a parent. Help your teen stay active by finding an exercise plan that fits their schedule. They may not have time to play a team sport at school or in a local league, but most teens can incorporate physical activity into daily life, such as going to school, doing chores, or finding an active part-time job.