Adolescence

(12 to 18 years old)

There are at least two physical
developmental milestones that typically
developing children should attain during
adolescence. During this stage, the
adolescent may start to experience the
growth of hair in places that were not there
before like in the underarms, facial hair, or
in private areas. Another physical development is the body shape change and increased height in the
adolescent. The adolescents body will begin to adapt to the changes that it is going through and make
the child look more like an adult (Berk, L.E., 2013).

There are at least two language developmental milestones that typically developing children should
achieve during adolescence. The adolescent will essentially begin to communicate as an adult, with
increasing maturity as they get older. They will be able to comprehend abstract language, such as idioms,
figurative language, and metaphors. The adolescents explanations may also become more figurative and
less literal (Davies, D., 2004).

In the adolescence stage, there are also at least two social emotional milestones to show atypical
development in a child. The child may show a larger independence from parents by spending less time
with them and more time with their friends. The child may also have a more intense capacity for caring
and sharing to develop more intimate relationships especially with the opposite sex.

There are at least two cognitive developmental milestones that typically developing children should
achieve during adolescence. Adolescents in this developmental stage uses more systematic problem
solving by being able to attack a problem, consider multiple solutions, and plan a course of action. In this
stage, the adolescent has mastered perspective thinking by understanding and considering others
perspectives, and the perspectives of social systems. In this stage cognitive development is uneven, and
impacted by emotionality (Gottfried, A. E., Fleming, J. S., & Gottfried, A. W., 1998).

In adolescence, a child can reach one developmental milestone in moral reasoning/self-regulation by
making conscious choices about what adults to trust. In this stage, a child will also reach a milestone
by respecting honesty & straightforwardness from adults.

There are many signs that may signal atypical development during adolescence. One sign is that
adolescents will begin to become more independent by distancing themselves from their parents and
making decisions on their own without asking for help. To ensure that an adolescent is on the right track
will require a lot of research because all adolescents do not develop the same way. If there is a true
concern about the development of an adolescent, it is best to contact a doctor.

One strategy that a family can use to influence their childrens learning and development is just giving
your child some space. The parent should be there to show support and offer advice but the parent will
need to learn how to let their child be independent. The parent can also inform their child about sexual
activity, how to resist peer pressure, and bullying; this will give the adolescent the tools needed to make
wise choices (Fogel, A., 2001).

One social factor that influences the adolescence stage of development is the activities that separate the
child from their family. One culture factor that influences the adolescence stage of development is the
chores and jobs that the child is expected to have to help the family and earn a living.