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Page last updated on:
April 21, 2010
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Development in Children: Major Landmarks
5 Through 7
Years of Age
Physical
Slow and steady growth continues.
Sexual
-
Children are involved in the final stages of
establishing a foundation of their
gender identity. They explore adult
roles by reversal play, e.g.. playing
house, but each child tries on a
different role at certain times.
-
Usually gives up wish for special relationship
with opposite sex parent and seek a
stronger relationship with same sex
parent.
-
Body exploration is common. Aware of sex
differences and reproduction but may not
be too interested.
-
Media influences understanding of male/female
family roles. Parents also communicate
expectancies for sex roles, which may or
may not be typical.
Developmental
-
Learns sex words "bathroom vocabulary". Due to
influence of peers, there is a tendency
to consider sexual terminology as "bad"
words.
-
Asking of searching questions about pregnancy,
birth and babies. May ask of the
father's role in reproduction. Interest
in comparing animal and human behaviour.
-
Begins to distinguish between acceptable and
unacceptable behaviour.
-
Becomes modest about own body. Beginning
self-consciousness leads to a desire for
privacy and feelings of embarrassment
may be exhibited.
-
Continuing development of gender identity shown
by choice of leisure activities, ways in
which feelings are expressed, and school
subjects.
Source: Talking Calgary Health Region Sexual
& Reproductive Health Program (2002).
Talking to your children about sexuality:
Parent package 7-12 years old,
[Brochure].
8 Through 12 Years of Age
Pre-teen children are aware, excited,
interested in, and affected by the sexual
aspects of their lives. These children
frequently ask question and are curious.
This may be a very emotional time for
children, and they may cry easily as they
struggle with the transition from childhood
to adolescence.
Physical
-
Begins to experience the physical changes of
puberty (growth of genitals, breast
development, etc).
-
Some girls begin to menstruate. Girls need to be
prepared for the onset of menstruation
and boys need information regarding
nocturnal emissions ("wet dreams").
Girls and boys should be informed of
these and other developments affecting
the opposite sex as well as their own.
Sexual
-
Peer group has increased influence on child's
self-image. Chief attachments are still
to members of their own sex.
-
Child may masturbate, sometimes to orgasm.
Developmental
-
Children begin to separate from parents. They
learn that friends can have different
ideas and customs and still be friends.
Together, friends explore the whole
range of life as they know and wonder
about it.
-
Physical changes and feelings of the pre-teen can
be positive; if not, feelings can
include guilt, confusion, and
embarrassment which results in less
communication within the family. The
result may be less support from the
family.
-
Responsibility around the home increases. Parents
are encouraged to avoid distinguishing
between separate jobs for boys versus
jobs for girls. Sexual discrimination
begins at a very young age.
Source: Talking Calgary Health Region Sexual
& Reproductive Health Program (2002).
Talking to your children about sexuality:
Parent package 7-12 years old,
[Brochure].
Development in Adolescence: Major Landmarks
13 Years of Age and Older
The period of adolescence is marked not only
by physical changes, but also by important
behavioural changes. A new significance is
attached to sexual expression and awakening.
Physical
-
Continues to experience body changes (puberty).
On average, boys develop about two years
later than girls.
-
Menstruation or sperm production; most girls
menstruate by age 16, most boys are
capable of ejaculation by age 15.
Sexual
-
Greater interest in sexuality, teen experiences
sexual fantasies as a way of preparing
for and understanding of their sexual
roles.
-
Tends to be greatly influenced by peer groups.
-
Begins to become interested in or develops
romantic relationships.
-
May have sexual attraction or experience with
someone of the same sex. This is not
necessarily an indication of a same-sex
orientation. May masturbate.
-
May experience frequent mood swings.
Developmental
-
Strong needs to assert independence; child may
rebel against parents.
-
Becomes more aware of physical appearance,
sometimes appears vain, at other times
very self-critical.
-
Becomes capable of thought that considers all of
the possibilities in a given situation.
-
Has a tendency to be involved in abstract
matters, sometimes losing touch with
reality. May regard thoughts and
feelings as unique or special, sometimes
developing a feeling of immortality, and
feel that nothing bad will happen to
them; It can't happen to me.
-
Ability to perceive the future is limited.
Therefore, talking about consequences
years ahead will not be effective unless
it is somehow made relevant in the here
and now.
-
Often experiences Personal fable: I am alone, no
one understands me, and I am unique. No
one else is experiencing or has ever
experienced what I experienced.
-
Tends to experiment, try out different roles and
search for "self".
-
Starts to define personal values, using family,
peer, and societal values as a guide.
-
Has need of understanding parents and supportive
environment.
-
The teen is moving rapidly to adulthood. It is a
time of re-evaluation. The teen needs to
establish independence from his/her
family and peers, to be able to relate
to the opposite sex, prepare for a
career and finally start to establish a
workable and meaningful philosophy of
life.
Females 11 - 13 years, Males 12 - 14 (Early)
Physical
Start of growth spurt.
Great changes in body appearance.
Sexual
-
Same sex friendships become very important.
-
Peer group is very influential (it is used as a
source of comparison for behaviour,
dress, "what is in", and "what is out").
-
Interest in the opposite sex is more social than
sexual.
-
Curious about love and sex.
Developmental
-
Thinks in concrete, rather than abstract terms.
-
Present rather than future oriented; considers
immediate rather than long-term
consequences.
Females 13 - 14 Years, Males 14 - 17
(Middle)
Physical
-
Growth continues, but not as fast.
-
Females begin to menstruate.
-
Males begin to ejaculate.
Sexual
-
Peer acceptance continues to be very important.
-
Establishing greater independence can be a time
of conflict because of wanting security
and freedom at the same time.
-
There is a new desire for sexual experience and
feelings that accompany the sex drive
(initiated by body hormones).
-
Dating relationships are typically short-term.
-
There is more experimentation than involvement in
opposite-sex relationships.
Developmental
-
Capable of more abstract thinking, more future
oriented.
-
In periods of stress, there is a return to more
concrete thinking.
Females and
Males 15 - 19 years (Late)
Physical
Physical changes have stabilized.
Sexual
-
Conformity to peer group is less important.
-
Relationships with parents are more of an adult
exchange.
-
Physical desire for sexual play increases.
-
Physical desire for intimacy increases.
-
Dating relationships have a deeper involvement,
with concern for one's partner.
Developmental
-
There is an improved ability to think abstractly,
to consider possible solutions to a
problem, and to predict cause and effect
relationships.
-
Future plans are starting to be put in place.
Calgary
Health Region Sexual & Reproductive Health
Program (2002). Talking to your teenage
children about sexuality: Parent package 13
years and older, [Brochure].
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