Family Doctor 2007 - (Page 211) kids & teens PUBERTY Growing toward adulthood First the growth spurt. Then the changes in moods and behavior. Welcome to puberty. Here’s a roadmap — for you and your child — to make it through! By Susan Gilbert Most teenagers begin to date. identities. In the effort to define themselves, they seek out friends with similar interests and values. Many parents worry that their sons and daughters are becoming “conformists” when they dress and act like their peers. But imitating others is one way teenagers figure out — and communicate — who they are. Later on, as they develop a firmer sense of identity, they usually act and dress more independently. Y ou knew puberty would be a challenge. Your daughter is exuberant one minute and irritable the next. Your son is gravitating more toward his friends — and growing away from you. But what’s really happening? By understanding your child’s physical and emotional changes, you can help him or her become independent — yet stay connected with you. Sexual curiosity is natural So what is puberty? In short, it’s a coming of age. Puberty refers to the period in life when the body’s ability to reproduce begins. You may know it by the word adolescence, referring to the transitional time between childhood and adulthood when boys and girls undergo dramatic growth and change. Anyone who’s gone through it with a child knows puberty can give new meaning to the word frustration. But it can also be fulfilling. Puberty begins when the pituitary gland releases hormones that switch on the sex glands — the ovaries in girls and testes in boys. This usually happens between ages 8 and 11 in girls and 10 and 16 in boys. Ovaries produce estrogen and progesterone; testes produce testosterone. These sex hormones stimulate the development of sex characteristics, including budding breasts and pubic hair in girls and a deepening voice and body hair in boys. The surge in sex hormones also affects your child emotionally, which explains the seesaw moods typical of adolescence. Sex hormones interact with the brain in ways that influence emotions. The peak in estrogen and progesterone before menstruation is an emotional time for girls. Susan Gilbert of Dobbs Ferry, N.Y., is the author of A Field During this time, teenagers also grow aware of their sexual identity. As their bodies become mature, they develop powerful urges. It’s natural for them to be curious about their own sexuality and that of their friends and classmates. Most teenagers begin to date, and some begin to engage in sexual activity. Now is when your teen needs accurate information about sexual activity, avoiding pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Many parents are uncomfortable talking about sex with their sons and daughters. But it’s easier if you think of it as a series of small conversations, instead of one big talk. Your family doctor can be a valuable resource. Stay involved Adolescence is a period of change, not only for your child but also for your relationship with your child. You may find that the same son or daughter who was once eager to please and easygoing is now defiant and hot-tempered. In spite of the stormy exchanges, however, teens still want their parents to be involved and even want them to set limits. So be tolerant — but firm. Not just hormones Puberty is also a period of tremendous brain development. New research sheds light on how those changes affect teen behavior. Areas of the brain that govern self-control develop slowly during adolescence. The lag explains why teenagers often act on impulse and take risks. During adolescence, young people strive to forge their Guide to Boys and Girls. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION American Academy of Family Physicians http://familydoctor.org/x4945.xml National Institutes of Health http://health.nih.gov/search.asp/24 Partnership for a Drug-Free America http://www.drugfree.org familydoctor 2007 211 http://familydoctor.org/x4945.xml http://health.nih.gov/search.asp/24 http://www.drugfree.org
For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.