GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF AN ADOLESCENE

Physical Growth

The major milestones of development in the adolescent period are the onset of puberty
at 9 to 12 years of age, and the cessation of body growth at 16 to 20 years. Between these
milestones, physiologic growth and development of adult coordination occur.

Most girls are 1 to 2 in (2.4 to 5 cm) taller than boys coming into adolescence but
generally stop growing within 3 years from menarche.

Boys grow about 4 to 12 in (10 to 30 cm) in height and gain about 15 to 65 lb (7 to 30 kg)
during adolescence. Girls grow 2 to 8 in (5 to 20 cm) in height and gain 15 to 55 lb (7 to 25 kg).
Growth stops with closure of the epiphyseal lines of long bones. This occurs at about 16 or 17
years of age in females and about 18 to 20 years of age in males.

All during adolescence, androgen stimulates sebaceous glands to extreme activity,

sometimes resulting in acne, a common adolescent skin problem. Apocrine sweat glands
(glands present in the axillae and genital area) form shortly after puberty. Apocrine sweat glands
produce a strong odor in response to emotional stimulation.

Teeth

Adolescents gain their second molars at about 13 years of age and their third molars
(wisdom teeth) between 18 and 21 years of age. Third molars may erupt as early as 14 to 15
years of age.

Puberty

Puberty is the time at which an individual first becomes capable of sexual reproduction.
These events usually occur between ages 11 and 14 years.
Secondary Sex Changes

Secondary sex characteristics such as body hair configuration and breast growth are
those characteristics which distinguish the sexes from each other but play no direct part in
reproduction.

Developmental Milestones
Play or Recreation
 Thirteen-year-old children change from school-age activities of active games to more
adult forms of recreation such as listening to music, chatting on computers, or following a sports
team’s wins and losses. Most adolescents spend a great deal of time just talking with peers as
social interaction

Fifteen-year-old children may spend a great deal of time in their room or, if they do not
have a room of their own, in a quiet corner of the home away from traffic and conversation
areas.

Beginning at age 16, most adolescents want part-time jobs to earn money. Such jobs
can teach young people how to work with others, accept responsibility, and spend money wisely.

Many adolescents engage in charitable endeavors during middle to late adolescence.

They learn they are strong and capable enough not only to take care of themselves but also to
help less fortunate people