3. Girls and Puberty
● Adolescence includes puberty, the physical changes, a change in thinking
ability, and all the social and emotional changes that happen during this
stage of life. It lasts roughly from age 9 until adulthood. Adolescence can
be an exciting time and a tough time in a girl's life.
● Puberty starts at the beginning of adolescence and is the time when
hormones begin to change and a girl matures physically into a young
woman. She develops breasts and her hips widen. Like boys, she
experiences increases in height and weight, pubic and body hair, and she
also begins menstruating (period). Her brain is also maturing while her
body is changing. It is during puberty that the female reproductive organs
mature and the body becomes ready for reproduction. Once a girl's
reproductive organs begin maturing, she can get pregnant if she has sex.
4. ...
● There is a "master" gland in a female that
controls all of this development. It's called the
pituitary gland. It's located in the brain and is
about the size of a pea. The pituitary gland
produces hormones that cause the ovaries to
produce the female sex hormone. These
hormones cause some of the physical changes
that turn a girl's body into a young woman's body.
5. Physical Changes During Puberty
for Girls
● Breasts develop
● Height and weight increase
● Hips and waist become more defined
● Menstruation begins
● Mood changes may occur
● Body hair grows in the pubic area, under the
arms, and becomes thicker on the arms and legs
6. ...
● Muscles become stronger
● Fat tissue normally increases
● Vocal cords get thicker and longer
● Sweat and oil glands become more active, and
body odor changes
● Acne may develop
● Reproductive system matures
7. Boys and Puberty
● Adolescence is the time between childhood
and adulthood. It lasts roughly from age 9
until adulthood. Adolescence includes puberty,
physical changes, a change in thinking ability,
and all the social and emotional changes that
happen during this stage of life. Adolescence
can be an exciting time and a tough time in a
boy's life.
8. ...
● Puberty starts at the beginning of adolescence. It is
when hormones change and a boy matures physically
to become a young man. He experiences increases in
height and weight, the size of his testicles and penis,
and growth of pubic, facial and body hair. He gains
muscle mass and physical strength. His voice deepens.
His brain is also maturing while his body is changing.
It is during puberty that a boy's reproductive organs
mature so that his body is ready for reproduction. He is
then able to get a girl pregnant.
9. ...
● There is a "master" gland in males that
controls all of this development called the
pituitary gland. It is located in the brain and is
about the size of a pea, and produces
hormones that cause the testicles to produce
male sex hormones. These hormones cause
many of the physical changes that turn a boy's
body into a young man's body.
10. Physical Changes During Puberty for
Boys
● Height and weight increase
● Body hair grows in the pubic area, under the
arms, and on the face, and becomes thicker on the
legs
● Muscles become stronger
● Vocal cords get thicker and longer - boys' voices
deepen
● The body develops an increased number of red
blood cells
11. ...
● Sweat and oil glands become more active, and
body odor changes
● Acne can develop
● Some boys develop small and temporary
breast tissue
● Reproductive system begins to work
14. • Begin to separate from their parents and
establish an individual identity. In some cases,
this may occur with minimal reaction on the part
of all involved
• However, in some families, significant conflict
may arise over the adolescent's acts or gestures
of rebellion, and the parents' needs to maintain
control and have the youth comply.
• http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002003.htm
15. Friendship
• As adolescents pull away from parents in a
search for identity, the peer group takes on a
special significance. It may become a safe haven,
in which the adolescent can test new ideas and
compare physical and psychological growth
• http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002003.htm
16. Some Characteristics
12-14 years old
• Close friendships gain importance
• Less affection shown to parents, with occasional
rudeness
• Realization that parents are not perfect;
identification of their faults
• Search for new people to love in addition to
parents
• Tendency to return to childish behavior, fought
off by excessive activity
• Peer group influences interests and clothing
styles
• http://www.state.sc.us/dmh/adolescent_facts.htm
17. 14-17 years old
• Effort to make new friends
• Strong emphasis of the peer group with
the group identity of selectivity,
superiority and competitiveness
• http://www.state.sc.us/dmh/adolescent_facts.htm
18. 17-19 Years old
• Greater concern for others
• http://www.state.sc.us/dmh/adolescent_facts.htm
19. • In early adolescence, the peer group usually
consists of non-romantic friendships, often
including "cliques," gangs, or clubs. Members of
the peer group often attempt to behave alike,
dress alike, have secret codes or rituals, and
participate in the same activities. As the youth
moves into mid-adolescence (14 to 16 years) and
beyond, the peer group expands to include
romantic friendships
• http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002003.htm
20. Courtship
• Mid-to-late adolescence is characterized by a
need to establish sexual identity through
becoming comfortable with one's own body and
sexual feelings. Through romantic friendships,
dating, and experimentation, adolescents learn
to express and receive intimate or sexual
advances in a comfortable manner that is
consistent with internalized values
• http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002003.htm
21. • Young people who do not have the opportunity
for such experiences may demonstrate difficulty
in establishing intimate relationships into
adulthood.
• http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002003.htm
22. Adolescents typically demonstrate behaviors consistent with several
myths of adolescence:
• The first myth is that they are "on stage" with the attention of others constantly
centered upon their appearance or actions. This preoccupation stems from the fact
that adolescents spend so much time thinking about and looking at themselves, it is
only natural to assume that everyone else is also thinking and looking at them as
well. In reality, this isn't the case, because "everyone else" (usually peers) is too
preoccupied with his or her own situation. This normal self-centeredness may appear
(especially to adults) to border on paranoia, narcissism, or even hysteria.
• Another myth of adolescence is that of the indestructible self. This belief feeds the
notion that "it will never happen to me, only the other person". In this sense, "it" may
represent becoming pregnant or catching a sexually-transmitted disease after having
unprotected intercourse, causing a car crash while driving under the influence of
alcohol or drugs, developing oral cancer as a result of chewing tobacco, or any of the
many adverse effects of a wide range of risk-taking behaviors.
• http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002003.htm
23. 12-14 years old
• SEXUALITY
▫ Girls ahead of boys
▫ Same-sex friends and group activities
▫ Shyness, blushing and modesty
▫ Show-off qualities
▫ Greater interest in privacy
▫ Experimentation with body (masturbation)
▫ Worries about being normal
▫ http://www.state.sc.us/dmh/adolescent_facts.htm
24. 14-17 years old
• Sexuality
▫ Concerns about sexual attractiveness
▫ Frequently changing relationships
▫ Movement towards heterosexuality with
fears of homosexuality
▫ Tenderness and fears shown towards
opposite sex
▫ Feelings of love and passion
• http://www.state.sc.us/dmh/adolescent_facts.htm
25. 17-19 years old
• SEXUALITY
▫ Concerned with serious relationships
▫ Clear sexual identity
▫ Capacities for tender and sensual love
http://www.state.sc.us/dmh/adolescent_facts.htm
26. Warnings
• If adolescents appear to be isolated from peers,
uninterested in school or social activities, or
deteriorating in performance at school, work, or
sports -- psychological evaluation may be necessary.
• Many adolescents are at increased risk for
depression and potential suicide attempts, due to
pressures and conflicts that may arise within
families, school or social organizations, and intimate
relationships.
• http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002003.htm
27. Tips
• Adolescents usually require privacy in which to contemplate
the changes taking place in their bodies. Ideally, the youth
should be allowed to have a private bedroom. If this is not
possible, some private space should be allotted.
• Teasing an adolescent child about physical changes is
inappropriate, because it may cause self-consciousness and
embarrassment.
• Parents need to remember that the adolescent's interest in
body changes and sexual topics is natural, normal
development and does not necessarily indicate movement into
sexual activity.
• http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002003.htm
28. More Tips
• Parents must be sensitive to the child’s needs since
Adolescents may experiment with or consider a wide
range of sexual orientations or behaviors prior to
feeling comfortable with their own sexual identity.
• Despite adolescents constantly challenging authority
figures, they need or want limit-setting, as it
provides a safe boundary in which to grow and
function. Limit-setting refers to predetermined and
negotiated rules and regulations regarding behavior.
• http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002003.htm
29. Courtship in other Countries
• Some Countries have little to no Courtship
▫ Pre-arranged marriages
▫ Child Brides:
Afghanistan
Yemen
Niger
Cameroon
Nicaragua
30. What are your countries ideas on
adolescent friendship and courtship?
32. SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT DURING
TEENAGE YEARS
The environment molds the teenager, but
the teenager also molds the environment by
influencing to how others respond to
him/her, and seek out influences outside the
family through peers and different leisure
time activities.
33. LEVELS OF INFLUENCE
•1. Microsystem (immidiate family)
•2.Mesosystem (home,school)
•3. Ecosystem (parent's work etc)
•4. Macrosystem (society)
35. Parenting styles
•1. Child Centered Parenting
•→ trust, awareness of activities & friends,
interest in school, no physical discipline,
disciplined & guided verbally upon acting
incorrectly, praise & thanks for good
behaviour, considering the opinion of the
youngster, daily communication, fairness and
consistency in the upbringing
36. Parenting styles
•2. Adult Centered Parenting
•→ no trust, no awareness of activities & friends,
no interest in school, teenagers are physically
disciplines, no verbal discipline & guidance upon
acting incorrectly, no praise or thanks for good
behaviour, no considation of the opinion of the
youngster, no daily communication, unfairness and
inconsistency in the upbringing
37. Physical Discipline
Spanking creates within the child/teenager
depression and rebellion, that can lead into
negative behaviour that breaks the norms
It is very possible that disciplining creates a
vicious cycle where both the parent and the
teenager use more and more hardcore ways to
control the behaviour of the other person
38. Authorititative VS Lenient
Parenting
Traditional authoritative parenting is
strongly rooted in the Finnish society
Today's parenting has jumped to the other
extreme of complete leniency towards the
teenager
Neither of these extremes are helpful or
produce good fruit in the teenagers life and
behaviour, we need to find the golden mean
on the matter!
39. Setting Boundaries
In the teenage years, one of the most important
tasks of parents is to set healthy and safe
boundaries to their teenager, and to teach that
breaking those rules will cause negative
consequences.
Teenagers are starting to grow independent of
their parents and will push the boundaries
frequently. Consistency is the key also in this age!
40. The Influence of Divorce
In dysfunctional families, when children reach their
teenage years, often it is also the breaking point to the
marriage as now the children are ”old enough to
understand”.
Parents divorce can cause sadness, depression, anger
and other emotions in the teenager that can shatter the
parental relationship to the teenager.
Divorces where teenagers get to keep both of their
parents in their worlds without competetion and in
cooperation are more likely to handle the divorce well
and maintain their relationships to the parents
41. Influence of Parental Use of Alcohol
/Tobacco
• Parents' drinking and/or smoking influences
their children's choices.
If one parent is a heavy drinker, risk of teenager turning
out as a heavy drinker increase by two or three times. In a
2005 study done in Wales, children of heavy drinkers
were found to "drink more frequently, more heavily, and
more often alone" than children of parents without
alcohol problems. Similar results occur with children of
smokers.
Parents who use illegal drugs are more likely to hide that
fact from their children. Consequently, parental drug
habits do not influence children as much as parental
drinking and smoking habits.
42. Violent Behaviour
A teenager that has no purpose, nothing to do or is
depressed, anxious etc. can turn to violence if his/her
problems are not a concern to the parents
Violent behaviour is also often influenced by the abuse of
alcohol
A mentally unhealthy teenager can also turn the violent
behaviour toward himself/herself through cutting or even
suicide attempt
The parents responsibility is to teach the teenager how to
control and manage their natural feelings of aggression
43. Preventing Sexual Abuse
Age apropriate sexual education develops a healthy
picture of sexuality to the teenager
Showing the teenager love and appreciation at home
prevents them friom having to look for it elsewhere in
unsafe environments
Teaching the child about their personal right to their
bodies and to say no
Parental quidance and supervision of Internet use can
strongly reduce the risk of sexual assault
Readiness to face the fact your teenager might have been
sexually abused and willingness to help them through it is
every parent's responsibility
44. REFERENCES
Brusila, Hyvärinen, Kallio, Porras & Sandberg, (2009), ”Eikö
Se Kuulu Kenellekään? Rohkene kohdata seksuaalisesti
kaltoinkohdeltu nuori”, Väestöliitto, Redfina Oy, Helsinki
Käärinen, A. (2008), ” Ero Haastaa Vanhemmuuden”,
Lastensuojelun Keskusliitto, Libris Oy, Helsinki
Pulkkinen, L. (1997), ”Lapsesta Aikuiseksi”, Atena Kustannus
Oy, Jyväskylä
Purjo, T. & NFG (2008), ”Väkivaltaisesta Nuoruudesta
Vastuulliseen Aikuisuuteen”,
Tampereen yliopistopaino – Juvenes Print, Tampere.
2008,”Parents Who Drink Influence Their Teens to do the
Same Thing”, National Drug Rehab Treatment Centre, USA
http://www.drugrehabtreatment.com/parental-influences.html
