Why is adolescence stage important

They become more emotionally and physically separated from their family. However, many reestablish an "adult" relationship with their parents, considering them more an equal from whom to ask advice and discuss mature topics with, rather than an authority figure.

Children and their parents often struggle with changing dynamics of family relationships during adolescence. 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? Concerns Girls Have About Puberty. Concerns Boys Have About Puberty. Brittany Allen, MD, FAAP, is a board-certified general pediatrician and provides specialty care to transgender and gender nonconforming youth.

You may be trying to access this site from a secured browser on the server. Please enable scripts and reload this page. Turn on more accessible mode. In , the Lancet published a special issue on adolescent health to address some of these gaps and to call for greater attention and commitment to adolescent health.

Together, the articles in this issue offer a cohesive approach to understanding and improving adolescent health within the larger context of global health. To help expand the reach of this series, the Population Reference Bureau has developed three fact sheets outlining the key messages and information from selected articles.

The Lancet Commission on Adolescent Health, established in , will release a comprehensive report in with recommendations for advancing adolescent health and reducing inequality. Hopefully, the SDGs will include a youth-specific goal, and all goals will meaningfully incorporate the needs of youth.

As a comprehensive overview of adolescent health and well-being, the Lancet articles can inform these activities and other efforts to move the adolescent health agenda forward.

This PRB fact sheet series provides key data and builds support for addressing adolescent health at a national and global level. Adolescent health is not just a question of individual well-being: As the size of the adolescent population grows, especially in developing countries, the health of young people will be a major determinant of economic and social development and progress.

Investing in research, policies, and programs to improve adolescent health is a key strategy to preserve gains in childhood health and ensure that girls and boys grow into healthy and productive men and women. Resource Library. The Importance of Adolescence.

Beyond that, the definition and experience of adolescence varies greatly, especially between cultures and genders. Biologically, adolescence is a period of development that stretches from the onset of puberty through the termination of growth; the Centers for Disease Control defines this period as between 10 and 24 years old.

Cognitively, the end of adolescence is defined by the ability to reason and think abstractly. Socially, adolescence is a time when young people begin to take on adult roles. No matter how you define it, adolescence is a time of great change and challenge, and girls have particular needs and concerns as their bodies change.

The average age at the onset of puberty continues to drift lower such that girls younger than 10 years old are more commonly demonstrating signs of puberty. This means that the physical and emotional issues related to puberty are starting in earlier grades and at earlier stages of cognitive development, and parents need to be prepared with the tools to understand and explain these changes to their daughters.