Physical Changes during Adolescence
Female
Male
Challenges
- Puberty
- Hips and pelvis get wider
- Getting your period
- Wild hormones and mood swings
- Skin and hair changes
- Hair growth
- Breast development
- Changes in body shape and height
- Can happen at any age between 8 and 13
- Hand-eye coordination improves, as well as gross motor skills
- Growth of intestines, therefore energy needs - calcium, iron, protein and minerals are important
- Body clock resets causing sleep patterns to change
- Sweat glands open - washing becomes routine
- Second molars come through
- Become more mature
- Get the ability to understand highly developed ideas and morals, such as maths concepts and rights and privileges
- Start thinking about relationships (boyfriends)
Male
- Puberty
- Skin and hair changes
- Hair growth - pubic and facial
- Growth of penis and testicles
- Erections
- Changes to voice
- Broader shoulders and chest
- Wild hormones and mood swings
- Can happen at any age between 9 and 14
- Hand-eye coordination improves, as well as gross motor skills
- Growth of intestines, therefore energy needs - calcium, iron, protein and minerals are important
- Body clock resets causing sleep patterns to change
- Sweat glands open - washing becomes routine
- Second molars come through
- Become more mature
- Get the ability to understand highly developed ideas and morals, such as maths concepts and rights and privileges
- Start thinking about relationships (girlfriends)
Challenges
- hitting puberty earlier/later than your friends
- clumsiness due to growth spurts and loss of centre of gravity
- peer pressure - how to look, act and feel