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.
Be sure to set a positive example yourself. This can help teens consider or rehearse decision-making ahead of time and prepare for when situations arise. Honor independence and individuality. This is all part of moving into early adulthood. Always remind your child you are there to help when needed.
The adolescent years can feel like riding a roller coaster. By maintaining positive and respectful parent-child relationships during this period, your family can try to enjoy the ride! Ages and Stages: Puberty. What is an Adolescent Health Specialist? The following are average ages when puberty changes may happen:. There are specific stages of development that both boys and girls go through when developing secondary sexual characteristics.
These are the physical characteristics of males and females that are not involved in reproduction, such as voice changes, body shape, pubic hair distribution, and facial hair. The following is a brief overview of the changes that happen:. In boys, the initial puberty change is the enlargement of the scrotum and testes.
At this point, the penis does not enlarge. 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.
Key Resources Want to learn more about adolescent development? Board of Directors. Member Briefs. Pulse Newsletter. Member Center. Health Systems Transformation Home. MCH Advocacy. Maternal Health Bill Tracker. Legislative Alerts. Hill Day Visits. HST Resources. HST Partners. HST Webinars. State Title V Profiles. Adolescent Health. Child Health. Emerging Threats to Mothers and Babies. The breasts then continue to enlarge. Over time, the nipples and the areolas will rise again.
They then form another mound on the breasts. When a girl becomes an adult, only the nipple is raised above the rest of the breast tissue. Both boys and girls. Pubic hair development is similar for both girls and boys. The first 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. Over time the pubic hair looks like adult hair, but in a smaller area.
It may spread to the thighs. It sometimes goes up the stomach. The teenage years bring many changes. These are not only physical, but also mental and social changes.
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