How do you know you are entering 

puberty?
The first signs of puberty appear at different
times for different people. A boy might realize
he's reached puberty when he starts needing to
shave. A girl, on the other hand, starts getting
her menstrual period during puberty.

Puberty and Adolescence
Puberty is the stage of life when a child
becomes sexually mature. Puberty lasts from
about 12 to 18 years of age in boys and from
about 10 to 16 years of age in girls. The age
when puberty begins is different from one child
to another. Children that begin puberty much
earlier or later than their peers may feel self-
conscious. They may also worry that something
is wrong with them. Usually, early or late
puberty is perfectly normal.
In boys, puberty begins when the pituitary
gland tells the testes to secrete testosterone.
Testosterone causes the following to happen:
1. The penis and testes grow.
2.The testes start making sperm.
 3.Pubic and facial hair growth.
4.The shoulders broaden, and the voice
becomes deeper.
In girls, puberty begins when the pituitary gland
tells the ovaries to secrete estrogen. Estrogen
causes the following to happen:
1. The uterus and ovaries grow.
2.The ovaries start releasing eggs.
3.The menstrual cycle begins.
4.Pubic hair grows.
5.The hips widen, and the breasts develop.
Boys and girls are close to the same height
during childhood. In both boys and girls, growth
in height and weight is very fast during puberty.
But boys grow faster than girls during puberty.
Their period of fast growth also lasts longer. By
the end of puberty, boys are an average of 10
centimeters (4 inches) taller than girls.
Adolescence
Adolescence is the period of life between the
start of puberty and the beginning
of adulthood. Adolescence includes the physical
changes of puberty. It also includes many other
changes, including significant mental, emotional,
and social changes. During adolescence:
 Teenagers develop new thinking abilities.
For example, they can think about abstract
ideas, such as freedom. They are also
better at thinking logically. They are usually
better at solving problems as well.
 Teenagers try to establish a sense of who
they are as individuals. They may try to
become more independent from their
parents. Most teens also have emotional ups
and downs. This is partly due to
changing hormone levels.
 Teenagers usually spend much more time
with peers than with family members.

FEATURE: MYTH VS. REALITY

There are many commonly held ideas about

teens that are not backed up by scientific
evidence. It is important for teens, their
parents, and their teachers and coaches to be
aware of these misconceptions.
Myth: Teens can eat anything and still not gain
weight because they are growing so rapidly.

Reality: Many teens eat too much food or the

wrong foods and end up gaining too much weight.
In fact, the rate of obesity in teenagers has
tripled since 1980.

Myth: Teens listen only to their friends.

Reality: Teens actually report that their

parents or the other caring adults in their lives
are the greatest influences on their behavior.
This is especially the case when it comes to
sexual behavior.

Myth: Teens engage in arguments with their

parents because they like to “push their
buttons.”

Reality: Adults tend to take arguments

personally and therefore interpret teen
behavior in this way. However, adolescents are
more likely to view arguments as a means of
self-expression. Teens may argue with their
parents in order to help establish their own
sense of identity, rather than to annoy the
adults.
 1. What is puberty? Are the first changes of
puberty visible? What are they?
2.What is the average age that girls start
puberty? When do physical changes usually
appear?
3.What is the average age that boys start
puberty? When do physical changes usually
appear?
4.What kinds of non-physical changes may
occur during puberty?

Review
1. When does puberty occur in boys? In girls?
2.What changes occur during puberty in boys?
3.What changes occur during puberty in girls?
4.What is adolescence?
5.Along with physical changes, what else
changes during adolescence?