Junior & Senior High School - Puberty

As part of growing up, your child will go through puberty. This is the time in your child's life when the body changes from that of a child to that of an adult. These changes are caused by chemicals in the body called hormones. Because there are so many changes during puberty, your teen may feel like his or her body is out of control. In time, hormones will balance out and the body will catch up.

Not only does the body change, but their emotions change, too. How teens think and feel about themselves, their family and friends, and their whole world, may seem different. As they go through puberty, they will begin to make important decisions for themselves, take on more responsibilities, and become more independent.

Frequently they ask themselves, "Am I normal?" or "Do other people my age feel the way I do?" These questions add to their anxiety about the rapid changes in their bodies.

In addition to the many physical changes they go through during puberty, there are many emotional changes as well. They may start to care more about what other people think about them. They want to be accepted and liked. At this time in their lives, their relationships with others may begin to change. Some become more important and some less so. They start to separate more from their parents and identify with others their age. They begin to make decisions that could affect the rest of their lives.

Many people their age feel self conscious about their changing bodies -- too tall, too short, too fat, too skinny. Because puberty causes so many changes, it is hard not to compare what is going on with their own body with what is happening with their friends' bodies. Help them to keep in mind that everyone goes through puberty differently. Eventually, everyone catches up.

As they get older, there will be many decisions your teen will need to make to ensure he or she stays healthy. Eating right, exercising, and getting enough rest are important during puberty because of all the changes the body is going through. It is also important that teens feel good about themselves and the decisions they make. They have to learn to care for their own bodies, work hard, maintain good health, and like themselves as they are.

« Back