Case Study of a Child: Age 17 Years Old

Denise Villas
EDU 220- 1004

PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT:
❖ Reach puberty
❖ More physical activity
❖ Defined physical features
Cognitive/Intellectual Development:
❖ Reasoning skills and abilities
❖ Concerns about the future
❖ Work ethic
❖ Problem solving
ABSTRACT
EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT: MORAL DEVELOPMENT:
❖ Interest in relationships ❖ Abstract thinking
❖ Interaction w/ parents changes ❖ Questions authority
❖ More emotional connections ❖ Using moral compass
Psychosocial/Social Development:
❖ Social groups
❖ Dates actively
❖ Commitments
Typical Physical Behaviors of a 17 year
old
❖ May have reach their full height
➢ Amy Morin, L. C. S. W., & Gordon, S. (2022)
❖ May have completed puberty
➢ Amy Morin, L. C. S. W., & Gordon, S. (2022)
❖ Muscle development
➢ Amy Morin, L. C. S. W., & Gordon, S. (2022)
❖ May gain weight w/o growing taller
➢ (Medline Plus, 2021)
 Typical Physical Behaviors of a 17 Y/O
According to Slavin

❖ “Self-esteem is lowest as children enter middle school or junior high school and with the
onset of puberty”
➢ (Slavin, 2021, pg. 60.)
❖ Clothing and accessories typically match peers
❖ Appearance is based on what is accepted with their peers
Physical Development Observation of a 17
y/o
*The student observed is a student from a local credit recovery high school*

Developmental Milestones Met:

❖ The student observed dressed in hoodies and jeans, much like their peers.
❖ He is also taller compared to his other classmates, his height seems to be just
about under 6ft.
❖ Student is able to fix their appearance. Ie. fixing their hair, adjust their clothing

Developmental Milestones Not Met:

❖ The student still lacks the confidence that some of his peers have.
❖ He shows signs of low self-esteem with body language (crossing their arms)
❖ Student has high pitched voice
Physical Development Recommendations for a 17 y/o
❖ Encourage your teen to get enough sleep and physical activity, and to eat
healthy, balanced meals. Make sure your teen gets 1 hour or more of
physical activity
➢ (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2021)
❖ Talk with your teen about the dangers of drugs, drinking, smoking, and
risky sexual activity.
➢ (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2021)
❖ Talk with your teen about the dangers of driving and how to be safe on
the road.
➢ (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2021)
Typical Emotional Behaviors of a 17 y/o
EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT:
❖ Interest in romantic relationships and sexuality
➢ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2021
❖ Relationship w/ parent ranges
➢ University of Washington. (1993).
❖ More independence from parents
➢ University of Washington. (1993).
❖ Deeper capacity for emotions
➢ Amy Morin, L. C. S. W., & Gordon, S. (2022)
Typical Emotional Development Level According to
Slavin (17 y/o)
❖ Not being accepted by their peers can cause emotional problems.
➢ (Slavin, 2021, pg 59.)
❖ “It is not that preadolescents care less about their parents. It is just their
friends are more important than ever.”
➢ (Slavin, 2021,pg. 60.)
❖ Teens this age usually feel the need to be accepted compared to other age
groups.
Emotional Development Observation
of a 17 y/o
Development Milestones Met:

❖ The student mentioned that he takes himself to school

every morning and his parents stopped taking him to
school and picking him up last year.
❖ While having a conversation with me and his teacher; he
mentioned how he met a girl last week and he was looking
forward to taking her out on a date. Shows that he is
becoming more emotional.
❖ The student also makes the class laugh.
 Emotional Development Recommendations

❖ Be available to talk to your teens

➢ University of Washington. (1993).
❖ “Accept feelings– don’t overreact… don’t revert to childhood restrictions”
➢ University of Washington. (1993).
❖ Accept needs for separation
➢ University of Washington. (1993).
❖ Avoid ridiculing your teen
➢ University of Washington. (1993).
Typical Cognitive Behaviors of a 17 Y/O
❖ Lack information or self-assurance about personal skills and abilities
➢ University of Washington. (1993).
❖ Concerned about the future
➢ Amy Morin, L. C. S. W., & Gordon, S. (2022)
❖ Begin to integrate knowledge leading to decisions about the future
➢ University of Washington. (1993).
❖ Learn more defined work habits.
➢ Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, 2021.
 Typical Cognitive Behaviors of a 17 y/o According
to:
Piaget: Vygotsky: Bronfenbrenner:
❖ Using signs to think and solve
❖ Abstract thinking problems without the help of ❖ They learn through their
other environment
❖ “They can monitor, or think about, their
➢ Slavin, J. 2021, pg. 33 ❖ Every level of the system has an
own thinking.” ❖ Learning happens through effect on the student
➢ Slavin, J, 2021, pg. 30 conversation ➢ Things like social media,
❖ “An aptitude to reason about situations ❖ and their parents
and conditions that have not been
experienced”
➢ Slavin, J. 2021. Pg. 31
 Cognitive Observation of a 17 Y/O
Development Milestones Met:

❖ The student showed great concern about the treatment of the jews in Germany during Hitler’s time. He asked
questions as to how the Holocaust can be related to current events.
❖ He also talked to another student about how their generation could make a change.
❖ The student is also on track to receiving all of their missing credits.

Developments Milestones Not Met:

❖ Student is in a credit recovery high school.

❖ The topics the student is learning are previous topics taught as early as 8th grade in Nevada.
Cognitive Development Recommendations for a 17 Y/O
❖ “Show interest in your teen’s school and extracurricular interests and activities and encourage him to
become involved in activities such as sports, music, theater, and art.”
➢ Centers for Controlled Diseases and Prevention, 2021
❖ “Facilitate appointment with school counselor.”
➢ University of Washington. (1993).
❖ “Encourage talking about and planning for future.”
➢ University of Washington. (1993).
Typical Psychosocial Development at age 17
Psychosocial/Social Development:
❖ “Relationships with parents range from friendly to
hostile.”
➢ University of Washington. (1993).
❖ Dates actively
❖ Invested in platonic or romantic relationships
❖ Starts to form stronger relationships
➢ Amy Morin, L. C. S. W., & Gordon, S. (2022)
Psychosocial Development at 17 According to Erikson
❖ Children at this age begin to question their identities more
➢ Slavin, J. 2021, pg. 49
❖ “To answer it, adolescents increasingly turn away from their parents
and towards their peer groups.”
➢ Slavin, J. 2021, pg. 49
❖ This age group tends to experiment more with various roles according
to Erikson
Psychosocial Observation of a 17 Y/O
Development Milestones Met:

❖ Student is not scared to talk peers about what he is

learning.
❖ He is a very social student, and even enjoys conversing
with his teacher.
❖ The student also has a girlfriend, and he enjoys talking
about her to his peers.
 Psychosocial Development Recommendations
❖ “Encourage your teen to volunteer and become involved in civic activities in her community.”
➢ Centers for Controlled Diseases and Prevention, 2021
❖ Discuss with your teen the importance of choosing friends who do not act in dangerous or unhealthy ways.
➢ Centers for Controlled Diseases and Prevention, 2021
❖ “Try to maintain good relationship; be respectful and friendly.”
➢ University of Washington. (1993).
❖ “Recognize and accept current level of interest in opposite sex.”
➢ University of Washington. (1993).
 Typical Moral Development at 17 Years Old
❖ “As adolescents become increasingly independent, they also develop more nuanced thinking about morality, or
what is right or wrong.”
➢ Vera-Estay,E. Dooley, J.J. & Beauchamp, M.H. (2014).
❖ Teenagers around this age typically question authority and rules
➢ Medline Plus, 2021
❖ “Is confused and disappointed about discrepancies between stated values and actual behaviors of family and
friends”
➢ Washington of Washington, 1993.
 Typical Developmental Level According to Kohlberg (Age 17)
❖ “Judgement regarding one’s behavior is determined by others’ approval.”
➢ Slavin, J. 2021, pg. 53
❖ “The right thing to do is determined by what satisfies one’s own needs or others’ needs.
➢ Slavin, J. 2021, pg. 53
❖ After the age of 9, Kohlberg does believe that the “right thing to do is based on individual rights agreed upon by
society.
➢ Slavin, J, 2021, pg. 53
 Moral Development Observation Age
17
Development Milestones Met:

❖ The student was learning about the Holocaust (for an essay) at the time of
the observation. He began to question the morality and beliefs of the
Nazis as he dove deeper into his research for his essay.
❖ He also voiced his opinion on NFTs and why he thinks they are a good
investment.
❖ He also shows a little bit of reliance with the dress code, shows where the
students values lies at the time.
Moral Development Recommendations (Age 17)
❖ Be sensitive to youth's feelings and thoughts.
➢ University of Washington, 1993
❖ You also should do what you can to promote your teen's independence and autonomy.
➢ Amy Morin, L. C. S. W., & Gordon, S. (2022)
❖ Respect your teen’s opinion. Listen to her without playing down her concerns.
➢ Centers for Controlled Diseases and Prevention
❖ “Communicate your feelings about sexual relations. Be open to discussion and appreciate possible differences in
values and needs.”
➢ University of Washington, 1993
 RESOURCES
Amy Morin, L. C. S. W., & Gordon, S. (2022, February 8). Is your 17-year-old developing normally? Verywell Family. Retrieved February 28,
2022, from https://www.verywellfamily.com/17-year-old-developmental-milestones-2609029#toc-how-to-help-your-17-year-old-learn-and
-grow

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, February 22). Adolescence (15-17 years old). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Retrieved February 28, 2022, from https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/childdevelopment/positiveparenting/adolescence2.html

Learning, L. (n.d.). Lifespan development. Lumen. Retrieved February 28, 2022, from https://courses.lumenlearning.com/wm-
lifespandevelopment/chapter/moral-development-during-adolescence/

U.S. National Library of Medicine. (n.d.). Adolescent development: Medlineplus medical encyclopedia. MedlinePlus. Retrieved February 28, 2022,
from https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002003.htm

University of Washington. (1993). Child development: Using the child development guide. . Child development guide: Sixteen to nineteen years.
Retrieved February 28, 2022, from http://depts.washington.edu/allcwe2/fosterparents/training/cdevguid/cdg15.htm