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PART IV

Adolescence

This two-chapter part dealing with the teenage years actually progresses a bit chronologically. That’s because my first topic, puberty, can begin to take place as early as age 9 or 10.

In Chapter 8–Physical Development—I’ll spend a good deal of time exploring puberty, that early adolescent total body change. However, I’ll also be focusing on two other teenage body-oriented topics: body image (and eating disorders) and adolescent sexuality.

Chapter 9–Cognitive and Socioemotional Development—begins by examining the dramatic advances in reasoning and morality that occur during adolescence. Next, I’ll be looking at teenagers’ emotional states and offering insights into which children are prone to have problems or flourish during this special decade of life. The last part of this chapter concerns relationships—how teenagers behave with their parents; how they act with their peers.