MIDDLE ADOLESCENCE
There are many typical milestones of child development for every age group. Understanding what is normal and expected to change for a child at any given age is very important in understanding how to best parent and discipline. Here are some of the typical developmental changes to expect with your 14 – 18 year old. This age is often referred to as “middle adolescence.”
PHYSICAL
- If a girl, completes growth spurt.
- If a boy, reaches peak and then completes growth spurt.
- If a boy, voice deepens.
- If a boy, adds muscle while body fat declines.
- May have had sexual intercourse.
- If boy, motor, performance increases dramatically.
COGNITIVE
- Is likely to show formal operational reasoning on familiar tasks.
- Displays relativistic reasoning in familiar situations.
- Masters the components of formal operational reasoning in sequential order on different types of tasks.
- Becomes less self-focused.
- Becomes better at everyday planning and decision making.
- Evaluates vocational options in terms of interest, abilities, and values.
LANGUAGE
- Can read and interpret adult literary works.
EMOTIONAL / SOCIAL
- Combines features of the self into an organized self-concept.
- Self-esteem differentiates further.
- Self-esteem tends to rise.
- Is likely to be searching for an identity.
- Is likely to engage in societal perspective taking.
- Is likely to have a conventional moral orientation.
- Gender stereotyping may decline.
- Has probably started dating.
- Conformity to peer pressure may decline.
