What social and emotional changes are associated with puberty
Answers
Social changes in adolescence
Identity
Young people are busy working out who they are and where they fit in the world. You might notice your child trying out new things like clothing styles, music, art or friendship groups. Friends, family, media, culture and more shape your child’s choices in these years.
Independence
Your child will probably want more independenceabout things like how he gets to places, how he spends his time, who he spends time with, and what he spends money on. As your child becomes more independent, it’ll probably mean some changes in your family routines and relationships, as well as your child’s friendships.
Responsibility
Your child might be keen to take on more responsibilityboth at home and at school. This could include things like cooking dinner once a week or being on the school council.
New experiences
Your child is likely to look for new experiences, including risky experiences. This is normal as your child explores her own limits and abilities, as well as the boundaries you set. She also needs to express herself as an individual.
But because of how teenage brains develop, your child might sometimes struggle with thinking through consequences and risks before he tries something new.
Values
This is the time your child starts to develop a stronger individual set of values and morals. She’ll question more things, and she’s also learning that she’s responsible for her own actions, decisions and consequences. Your words and actions help shape your child’s sense of ‘right’ and ‘wrong’.
Influences
Your child’s friends and peers might influence your child, particularly his behaviour, appearance, interests, sense of self and self-esteem. You still have a big influence on long-term things like your child’s career choices, values and morals.
Sexual identity
Your child might start to have romantic relationships or go on ‘dates’. But these aren’t always intimate relationships. For some young people, intimate or sexual relationships don’t occur until later on in life.
Media
The internet, mobile phones and social media can influence how your child communicates with friends and learns about the world.
Emotional changes in adolescence
Moods and feelings
Your child might show strong feelings and intense emotions, and her moods might seem unpredictable. These emotional ups and downs can lead to increased conflict. They happen partly because your child’s brain is still learning how to control and express emotions in a grown-up way.
Sensitivity to others
As your child gets older, he’ll get better at reading and understanding other people’s emotions. But while your child is developing these skills, he can sometimes misread facial expressions or body language.
Self-consciousness
Teenage self-esteem is often affected by appearance – or by how teenagers think they look. As your child develops, she might feel self-conscious about her physical appearance. She might also compare her body with those of friends and peers.
Decision-making
Your child might go through a stage where he seems to act without thinking a lot of the time. Your child’s decision-making skills are still developing, and he’s still learning that actions have consequences and even risks sometimes.