Teen Physical Development
Puberty can be a confusing and awkward time for teenagers. As hormones are released into their bodies, they begin to physically grow and change. In addition to rapid physical growth, teenagers begin to experience adult emotions and new physical needs and desires. Children during this time period grow physically, but they also grow mentally and emotionally as their brains develop towards adulthood.
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Height and Weight
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During puberty girls will grow between two and 10 inches, and they will gain between 10 and 55 pounds, according to the Lucile Packard with Children's Hospital at Stanford. Boys usually gain four to 12 inches of height, and can gain 15 to 65 pounds of body weight. The Palo Alto Medical Foundation indicates that girls usually tend to gain more body fat, while boys will normally develop more muscle mass.
Initial Puberty Changes in Girls
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Girls will begin to grow more hair on their legs and under the arms, as well as growing pubic hair. Their bodies will also become larger, their breasts will start to grow, and they will gain weight around their hips and thighs. They will also begin to menstruate, or have periods, each month. The Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford website indicates that girls also begin to experience body odor and skin eruptions.
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Initial Puberty Changes in Boys
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The first stage is increased testicular growth. The Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford website explains that the penis will begin to enlarge approximately a year after the testicular growth occurs, and boys will begin to have erections. They usually start experiencing wet dreams when they are approximately 14 years old, and their voices change when they are around 15. Boys will begin to grow more hair on their legs, under the arms, in the pubic area, on their chests, and on their faces. During this time boys can develop increasingly oily skin and acne.
Emotional Changes
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The bodies of teenagers go through rapid hormonal changes, and these hormones have an effect on the emotional development as well as the physical development of teens. Teenagers become increasingly interested in forming emotional relationships with their peers and often spend more time with friends than with family members. In addition, teens often develop an interest in sex and seek to develop romantic relationships.
Brain Development
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A child's brain does not reach physical maturity until the late teen years. According to the Harvard Magazine website, the brain of teenagers is still 80 percent undeveloped during puberty. Some parts of the brain, particularly the part that controls rational decision making and judgment, may not fully develop until the individual is between 25 and 30 years old.
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References
- Photo Credit teenager close up image by Chef from Fotolia.com
