Adolescence Fact Sheet

Physical developmental milestones that typically develop in adolescence children are breast
growth/ development in girls, which should be completed by the age of fourteen. In boys
growth, they typically have an increased growth of strength, speed, and endurance (Child

Development, 2014).
When it comes to the adolescence language developmental milestones typically adolescence
will be able to speak complex sentences and write just as well. He or she should be able to speak
with complex communication. Sometimes this is a time that a child will also develop using foul
language to prove that he is tough (Bauer, 2014).
When children experience adolescence growth in cognitive developmental milestones they
should typically develop, and according to Piagets theory, be able to think and reason from
concrete visible events and be able to figure out what-if circumstances. According to Lin, Tsai,
& Ting, cognitive growth hits about the same time that children hit their growth spurts. Height
is considered as being a typical cognitive ability (Lin, Tsai, & Ting, n.d.).

One sign that may signal atypical development during the adolescence period could be a
language problem. For instance, input-processing information may not be processed correctly
and the child may not be able to express herself orally or in writing (Bauer, 2014) . A parent
would want to figure out if their child really has a problem or if he or she has hit a place in his or
her life where he is just choosing to not use certain language and responding with rude
comments. Another sign of atypical development would be not being able to comprehend what
he or she is reading. Sometimes when a child reaches a certain age, they cannot figure out how to
solve problems on their own. Adolescence could be a trying time for children of this age to act
out and be rebellious.
A strategy that families can use to influence their childrens learning and development during
this period of development is to give moral support to your adolescence when he or she seems to
be struggling with homework or an emotional problem. Once children reach the age of puberty
they sometimes seem to be more emotional and feel as if they want to do what their peers are
doing. They also sometime isolate themselves because they do not feel like they fit in (not
popular, low grades, etc.). Strategies that would help an adolescence socially and culturally
would to sign them up for activities with children their own age so that they can have a chance to
get to know each other and interact with them. Another good idea is to provide positive
encouragement and counseling from the parent or someone else that could help if the parents felt
that their adolescence was struggling with something.
Two play based strategies would be to sign up as a team on a community sports team
together, or volunteer to be Big Brother/Big Sisters to children that need extra support and
encouragement in the community that do not have siblings or parents. Programs could be done

that promotes play activities to help in homework, etc.

Let the adolescence join in and take part in the activities. This would help parent and child grow
together and benefit them socially and teach them to work together and with others. This would
also give a less fortunate child an opportunity to build in friendship, love, and care.

References

Bauer, M., (2013). Language development in teenagers. Retrieved from

http://www.livestrong.com/article/226031-language-development-in-teenagers/
Boundless. Cognitive Development in Adolescence. Boundless Psychology. Boundless, 14
Nov. 2014. Retrieved 16 Nov. 2014 from
https://www.boundless.com/psychology/textbooks/boundless-psychology-textbook/humandevelopment-14/adolescence-73/cognitive-development-in-adolescence-283-12818/
Child Development. (2014). Your childs development; developmental milestones-adolescence.
Retrieved from http://www.pal.ua.edu/development/ad_milestones.php
Lin M, Tsai H, Ting H. Effects of Height on Cognitive Ability in Adolescence: Evidence from
Taiwan Education Panel Survey. (In Chinese. With English summary.). Academia Economic
Papers [serial online]. December 2013;41(4):507-558. Available from: EconLit with Full
Text, Ipswich, MA. Accessed November 15, 2014.