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Teen: Child Development (12-17 Years Old)

Medical Author: John Mersch, MD, FAAP
Medical Editor: David Perlstein, MD, FAAP

If there is ever a time for parental self-doubt and second-guessing, the teenage years are that period. Efforts to provide guidance and insight are commonly rejected. Attempts at dialog and discussion are dismissed with either rolling of the eyes or monosyllabic grunts of acknowledgement. Even the ability to physically intimidate wanes rapidly as many a growth spurt rockets the adolescent upward in stature past his/her parents. And yet, perhaps similar to a young toddler, it is at this time that children need more support and supervision, since like the 2-year-old, a strong ego coupled with an impulsive nature can be a volatile combination.

What are milestones in academic development for teens 12-17 years of age?

The high school years are a time of development and maturation. Children are developing the skills necessary for college or the general work force. As the 11th and 12th grades are nearing completion, the teen should be comfortable making oral presentations. The ability to absorb and analyze information and then synthesize and present persuasively either a supporting position or offer a counter argument is crucial to survival in the adult world. Eye-to-eye contact and the ability to read the audience instead of talking into a handheld stack of 3 x 5 cards is a difficult, yet important, capability.

In order to successfully master this art of persuasion, it is beneficial for the student to have an exposure to a broad array of literary forms -- poetry, fiction, autobiography, etc. As a result of this exposure, teenagers broaden their vocabulary skills and improve their presentation styles, using the simile and metaphor more broadly to express their ideas. The ability to efficiently and effectively research reference works, either in the traditional technique of library study or via online sources, is critical.

In addition to effective oral presentations, mastering the art of written argument is equally important. Proper use of syntax, vocabulary, and varying literary style to entice the reader are all-important skills that should be mastered. The successful adolescent will learn the mechanics of revising and editing a draft in order to produce a final copy.