adolescence & teen years

Adolescence brings changes in the brain, the body and social life at the same time. An approach that worked with a ten-year-old often stops working at fourteen, and that is a normal part of development.

What these articles cover

Topics include teenage relationships, identity and values, career thinking, body image, online conflict, risk-taking and substance use. Some articles also cover learning profiles that tend to become visible in the teen years.

Teenagers are more sensitive to peer opinion and social reward than younger children or adults. This helps explain why friendships, belonging and how they are seen by others matter so much at this age.

Behaviour has reasons

Withdrawal, conflict or sudden intensity can be easier to respond to when the cause is understood. Many common teenage behaviours reflect brain development, sleep changes and social pressure rather than character.

Support from adults

Teenagers still need steady adult support while they build independence. These articles help parents understand what teenagers are going through, so they can respond to the cause and not only to what they see.

The articles are written for parents and for young people. They are based on research, explained in plain language, and focused on the patterns most common during adolescence.