Four Stages of Adolescence: Stage One
My next four posts will be regarding the Four Stages of Adolescence. These will be relatively short informational posts constructed to simply inform the readers of the various stages of adolescence and indicators of said phase.
The first stage of adolescence is the Early Adolescence Phase. Early adolescence usually unfolds between ages nine and thirteen, and problems are characterized by these common changes.
- Develops a negative attitude.
- Shows increased dissatisfaction at being defined and treated as a child.
- Shows less interest in traditional childhood activities and more boredom and restlessness from not knowing what to do.
- Feels a new sense of grievance about unfair demands and limits that adults in life impose.
- Resists authority more, with questioning, arguing, delaying compliance, and ignoring normal home and school responsibilities.
- Experiments more to see what he can get away with, including such activities as shoplifting, vandalizing, prank calls, and the beginning of substance experimentation.
Dr. Ellen Bowers writes:
To Expect adolescent changes does not mean you accept them all. "Expect" means to keep your expectations current with the changing reality of your child's growth so you can provide necessary discipline when the unacceptable occurs without overreacting emotionally (Bowers, 2011).
Comments