LESSON 2: CHANGES IN ADOLESCENTS

Lesson Targets:

Recognize that changes in different health dimensions are normal during

puberty

• Describe changes in different aspects of growth that happen to

boys and girls during puberty

• Explain that the patterns of change during puberty for each

adolescent are similar, but the pace of growth and development is

unique for each adolescent.

Teenagers in Action

Something to Ponder On

You may be experiencing significant changes in yourself because you

are now in another stage of life—adolescence! This occurs between puberty and

adulthood. Puberty is the time when you start to become sexually mature. It

usually happens at the age of 10 or 11 for girls and 12 or 13 for boys. However,

this is not true for everybody. Some adolescents experience puberty either ahead

or later than others. Some have their growth spurt earlier and some later. Still

others may experience having pimples while others may not. The age when you

experience puberty is influenced by heredity, nutrition, exercise, and other

environmental factors. You undergo significant changes in the health dimensions

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-- physical, intellectual, emotional, social and moral-spiritual. All adolescents

undergo similar changes as they grow and develop. However, there are

differences in the way these changes happen to an adolescent; hence, change is

similar and at the same time unique for each adolescent.

The changes that happen during puberty are normal to adolescents. You

have to know and understand these changes so that they will not surprise nor
scare you. They are a normal part of your growth and development as a person.

What is important is for you to learn how to cope with them in appropriate ways.

You will learn that your wonderful body has built-in mechanisms that help you

grow and develop as an individual. You just have to recognize and use them

well.

Check Your Healt