Steps & Stages

There comes a time when our offspring ar no longer considered "children". Before this time, girls and boys behave much alike, but from ages 10 and 11 onward, each gender develops sex-specific changes as hormonal triggers initiate puberty.

It is important we keep in mind as parents that the primary task of adolescence are separation from parents and the development of a new identity. It is up to us to establish the framework and boundries by providing a safe and loving environment for our teens to develop and grow.

Adolescence involves intense physical, emotional and psychological changes with a huge variation of what is considered "normal". Each teenager is an individual with a unique personality and special interests, likes and dislikes. In general, however, there is a series of developmental tasks that everyone faces during the adolescent years.

Experts divide the stages of adolescence into three stages.

Early Adolescence (ages 12-14)

Middle Adolescence (ages 15-17)

Late Adolescence (ages 18-20)