Stages of adolecence

Emotional development-

If teenagers could have a reason for being (other than cleaning out the refrigerator and sleeping all day) it would be asserting their independence. This demands that they distance themselves from their parents. The march toward autonomy can take less myraid forms: Less affection towards parents, spending more time with friends, Contentious behaviour or they may push the limits- the list goes on and on. Yet adolecents feel frequently conflicted at leaving the safety and security of home. They may yo-yo back and forth between wanting your attention then spinning away again.

Social development-

Until adolecence childrens lives revolve mainly around family. Adolecence has the effect of a stone being dropped in water, their social circle ripples outwards to include friends of the same sex, opposite sex, different ethnic and social groups and different adults like a favorite teacher or coach.

Not all teenagers go through adolecence at the same time or display the same behaviour. Whats more, all though adolecence, a youngster can be futher along in some areas of development than others. For example a 15 year old boy might physically resemble a young man but he may still act like a child as it is not until later on in adolecence that Intellectual, Emotional and social development start to catch up with physical development.

Is it any surprise that teenagers sometimes feel confused and conflicted, espcially when you think of the limbo society imposes on them up until they are about 20+. Prior to world war II, only about 1 in 4 teenagers finnished secondary education. It was common for adolecents to be working full time and married with children. Today close to 3 in 4 young people recive genral certificates of secondary education, with close to 2 in 5 graduates going on to college or sixth form, “As more and more teens have extended their education.” says Dr. Joseph Rauh, a specialist in adolecent medicine since the 1950's, “The age range of adolecence has been streched into the twenties.”

Look back on your own adolecent years and you may be able to recall the fustration of wanting to strike out on your own- But still being financially dependent of your parents. Or striving to be your own person- Yet at the same time desprately wanting to fit in amoungst your peers.

Adolecence can be a confusing time for parents too. For one thing they must contend with their childrens sometimes paradoxical behaviour. How come that son given to arias about saving the rain forest has to be constantly nagged to sort out the recycling? Or that daughter who tells you to stop treating her like a baby acts wounded when you ask her to clear the table after dinner?

But beyond learning to live with the swiching currents of adolecent emotion, parents may be battling some conflicting emotions themselves. The pride of watching your teenager grow and become independent may be countered by the feeling of displacement. As much as you might accept intellectually that withdrawing from one's parents is an integral part of growing up, it hurts to see that child that used to beg to join you on your daily errands, now rarely agrees to be seen in public with you and even then only if the destination is at least one area code away.

It is comforting to know that feeling a sense of loss is a normal response- one that is most probably shared with most of the parents stood next to you at football practice. For pediatricians, offering guidence and support to parents makes up a considerable and rewarding part of each day.