Early Adolescence (ages 11-14)

Adolescence

Middle Childhood (ages 8-11)

Middle Adolescence (ages 15-18)

Below are characteristics of the "typical" child during the developmental stage of early adolescence (ages 11-14).   Children's progression through all stages of adolescence is determined not only by biological growth and change, but also by temperament and personality, adult expectations, the child's environment, and social influences.

Physical Growth

• Wide variation in onset of puberty and growth spurt.

• Appetite increases during growth spurts and decreases markedly between them.

• Increased need for sleep.

• Evident sexual development, voice changes, and increased body odor are common.

Cognitive Stage

• Individual variation between some children who are still focused on logic and others who are able to combine logical and abstract thinking.

• Some early adolescents can't think ahead to consequences of their actions.

• Developing new thinking skills, such as thinking more about possibilities, thinking more abstractly, thinking more about the process of thinking itself, thinking in multiple dimensions, and seeing things as relative rather than absolute.

• Practicing new thinking skills through humor and by arguing with parents and others. Use of humor focused on satire, sarcasm, and sex (often irritating to adults).

Moral Development

• Continuing egocentrism.  Often believes self to be invulnerable to negative events.

• Increasing ability to take perspective of others into account with own perspective.

• In addition to concern about gaining social approval, morals begin to be based on respect for the social order and agreements between people: "law and order" morality.

• Begins to question social conventions and re-examine own values and moral/ethical principles, sometimes resulting in conflicts with parents.

Self-Concept

• Self-image can be challenged by body changes during puberty and social comparisons.

• Youth begin long-term process of establishing own identity separate from family.

• With the onset of puberty, many girls experience pressure to conform to gender stereotypes, might show less interest in math and science.

• With puberty, normal increases in girls' body fat can impact body image and self-concept negatively for many. Both boys and girls might be concerned with skin problems, height, weight, and overall appearance.

Psychological and Emotional Traits

• Intense self-focus.

  • Worrying about what others think about them.

  • Increased desire for privacy and sensitivity about body.

• Frequent mood swings with changes in activities and contexts. Too much time spent alone can contribute to moodiness.

• Height of forgetfulness.

Relationship to Parents and Other Adults

• Changes in own and parental expectations alter previous patterns of relationships with parents, often resulting in greater conflict.

• Greater focus on peer friendships as youth develops an identity outside of the role of a child in a family.

• Often rebuffs physical affection (but still needs it).

• Increased interest in making own decisions; benefits from increased opportunities to make own decisions within scope of current abilities.

• Youth objects more often to parental limitations (but still needs some), resulting in conflict.

• New thinking abilities are practiced in increased use of humor and arguments (or "talking back") with parents/other adults, which may result in conflicts.

• parental listening skills and nurturing continue to be important.

Peer Relationships

• Changes due to puberty and peer reactions commonly alter peer relationships.

• Friendships still begin with perceived commonalities, but increasingly involve sharing of values and personal confidences.

• Might develop cliques of three to six friends (usually same gender), providing greater sense of security.  Antisocial cliques can increase antisocial behaviors.

• Romantic crushes common, and some dating begins.

Information from Middle Childhood and Adolescent Development, Oregon State University Extension Service.

Next:  Middle Adolescence (ages15-18)

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by Gary Chapman

This book contains very practical guidance on how to express the teen's primary love language, how to teach them appropriate responsibility, and how to properly handle both parental and teen anger.  It is a tangible resource for stemming the tide of violence, immorality, and despair engulfing many teens today.

More Information

Early Adolescence ~ With one foot in childhood and the other in adolescence, the early adolescent faces a set of changes that can be scary and confusing. In no other period of an individual's life, except in infancy, are there so many changes in such a short period of time.

Growing Up and Clamming Up Too Soon ~ An overview of the lives of middle-schoolers and how they feel about their families.

Guess Who's Coming to Breakfast ~ Our changing culture has created a climate ripe for the popularity of coed sleepovers.  Parents are increasingly out-of-touch, naive, or permissive.  Old standards have been forfeited and replaced by an ethical standard that lacks commonly held standards.  Many teens are left to make plans and decisions for themselves without any parental input or guidance.  Here are some guidelines for parents.

Helping Your Child Through Early Adolescence (pdf) ~ The journey through these years is easier when parents, families and caregivers learn as much as they can about this time in children's lives and when they give their children support.  Young adolescents need adults who are there for them — people who connect with them, communicate with them, spend time with them, and show a genuine interest in them. This booklet is designed to help in this effort.

I Love You Just the Way You Are ~ The early adolescent years combine fast-paced change and the confusion of wondering, "Am I normal?"  Add to these insecurities the desire to fit in and a peer group that knows little or nothing about sensitivity, and you've got a volatile mix.

Preparing for Middle School ~ Information from the American School Counselor Association for parents to help their child make the transition from elementary to middle school.

Raising Successful Youth ~ Research-based principles for families, schools, and communities provided by the Center for Early Adolescence.

Remembering the Middle Schooler in You ~ Many of us try to avoid remembering how we looked and behaved during those years.  Still, the middle schooler lives inside us all.  It's vital that educators not get too sidetracked by the whirr of cultural changes in the lives of students in the middle.

Sleep Shortage Takes Toll on Middle-Schoolers ~ Feelings of depression and low self-esteem plague children as they advance through middle school because they get increasingly less sleep.