Adolescent Growth Spurt

A. What specific age range?

B. What age specific differences:

1. MOTOR SENSORY

Before the adolescent growth spurt, the strength of boys and girls is about the same. But afterward, males most often have the advantage.
During these years of rapid physical growth, adolescents may be somewhat awkward or clumsy as they get used to longer limbs and bigger bodies. Their brains need time to adjust to the growing body.
Strength can be increased further in both boys and girls by participation in sports and exercise programs. A large and growing number of kids do not participate in the recommended amount of physical activity. Many children become less active as they enter middle and high school and as organized sport activities become more competitive. 2. Cognitive development

3. Learning Development

4. Psychosocial development

C. How to address safety and how do PT's involve them?

~Therapy for teens focuses on the interpersonal relationships of the adolescent as well as the family members, how they relate to each other, communicate, and individuate.
Family Systems helps to look at the interactions of each member, how they communicate, and help each individual to learn how to interact in a healthier way.
~A good therapist will work to address the concerns of the adolescent, while helping the family to grow and heal. Children grow through a variety of developmental milestones--physical and psychological. As they struggle to resolve their psychological development, they need the love, support, and structure provided by their parents and guardians.
EX: Teenage Girl Doesn't Talk to Mother - Case Example
Emily, 16, and her mother, 41, come in to therapy because Emily does not talk to her mom anymore.
Mom does not know what to do. Emily and her mother fight daily, Emily sneaks out of her bedroom and does not listen to mom. Emily’s mom does not know how to handle the changes and nags Emily about everything: chores, school work, friends and how much she misses spending time with her. In therapy, Emily wants her mom to stop nagging and mom wants Emily to talk with her more. For therapy goals, identifying the stage of development that Emily is in helps to clear the air between the two and helps map out different ways of relating. Rules for communication and negotiation is also addressed so the relationship can be a win-win relationship, instead of the chaotic relationship it is now. With each person speaking and learning new ways of relating, their relationship can be renewed and
salvaged.
~During the transition from childhood to adulthood, adolescents establish patterns of behavior and make lifestyle choices that affect both their current and future health. Serious health and safety issues such as motor vehicle crashes, violence, substance use, and risky sexual behaviors can adversely affect adolescent and young adults.
Some adolescents also struggle to adopt behaviors that could decrease their risk of developing chronic diseases in adulthood, such as eating nutritiously, engaging in physical activity, and choosing not to use tobacco.
Environmental factors such as family, peer group, school, and community characteristics also contribute to adolescents' health and risk behaviors.