Oct2012_The 14 year old
A Guide for Parents in 250 words by Robyn Maggs – Eyes of Heart ph. 3103 1249
It is at this time that the true transition from childhood to adolescent begins.
It is at this time that the true transition from childhood to adolescent begins.
Acne, awkwardness, and a vulnerable consciousness of their complex feeling and thought lives, are some of the ways the 14 year old adolescent is characterised. Fourteen also marks a time when adolescents both want and need to be taken seriously. It is important to acknowledge that whilst not an adult, the 14 year old is no longer a child and has begun a journey towards adulthood.
Although there is a wide range of ‘normal’ for all developmental milestones, this is the average age for growing sexual development and is often marked by milestones such as menstruation in girls and voice changes in boys.
Socially, girls are eager to connect and share feelings and experiences in small cohesive groups. The boys however often tend to appear arrogant, surly and ‘emotionally illiterate’; frequently depending on a ‘language’ of physical contact and boisterousness to manage their inner world.
Cognitively, reasoning becomes popular as critical faculties develop and familiar rules are subject to scrutiny. Descriptive and observational capacities are also growing and make their reasoning skills frighteningly (to many unsuspecting parents), sound.
Morally the 14 year old may begin to struggle with the establishment of their own moral stand in regard to world issues. This can create conflict between the ideals previously given by family and schools and their own need to begin to create an independent, personal, position in the search for individuality.
Next Month – the 15 year old.
Although there is a wide range of ‘normal’ for all developmental milestones, this is the average age for growing sexual development and is often marked by milestones such as menstruation in girls and voice changes in boys.
Socially, girls are eager to connect and share feelings and experiences in small cohesive groups. The boys however often tend to appear arrogant, surly and ‘emotionally illiterate’; frequently depending on a ‘language’ of physical contact and boisterousness to manage their inner world.
Cognitively, reasoning becomes popular as critical faculties develop and familiar rules are subject to scrutiny. Descriptive and observational capacities are also growing and make their reasoning skills frighteningly (to many unsuspecting parents), sound.
Morally the 14 year old may begin to struggle with the establishment of their own moral stand in regard to world issues. This can create conflict between the ideals previously given by family and schools and their own need to begin to create an independent, personal, position in the search for individuality.
Next Month – the 15 year old.
