8-19

Information on 8-19

Group of teenagers doing an outdoors activity together

Your child is growing up fast, during this time children go through lots of changes as they become young adults. It is an enjoyable time but there can be challenges along the way. This section supports you with information on these significant changes and developments, offering advice and guidance on how to approach these changes with your child in a positive way.

Click here for a timeline of typical developmental milestones for children in this age range
8 years

Typical developmental milestones 8 years:

👥Social and emotional milestones: they should be able to mask their feelings and pretend that they feel differently about something, for example if they receive a present they don’t like they should be able act like they do like it. They may show pride in being involved in a team or group.

🗣Language and communication milestones: your child will be getting better at communicating and will want to talk about things they are interested in. You may find them reading with a torch at night past their bedtime because they enjoy reading.

💪Physical milestones: at this age, your child is refining their physical abilities, you might not see them doing anything new, but will see them getting better at what they can already do, such as running, jumping, balancing and writing.

9 to 11 years

Typical developmental milestones between 9 years and 11 years:

👥Social and emotional milestones: they will start to form more permanent, lasting friendships. It becomes more important to them to have meaningful friendships, especially those of the same gender. They may be experiencing peer pressure more often. They will become more aware of their bodies, especially as puberty is approaching.

🗣Language and communication milestones: they will be able to give instructions and directions to others to help them, and be able to organise information to be clear about what they are talking about. They will use different words rather than saying the same ones repeatedly and will use more imaginative language in conversations.

💪Physical milestones: they will experience an increase in strength, balance and coordination, developing muscles. They will be very active, with lots of energy. Girls will mature at a faster rate than boys.

12 to 14 years

Typical developmental milestones between 12 years and 14 years:

👥Social and emotional milestones: they will show more concern about their body image, looks and clothes and focus on themselves more, going between high expectations and a lack of confidence. They may start to question their perceptions of the authority of their parents..

🗣Language and communication milestones: they will talk differently to teachers and other adults than they do to their friends. They will be able to use sarcasm and understand when people are being sarcastic to them.

💪Physical milestones: they will be starting puberty around this age, boys will grow facial and pubic hair, their voices deepen and they grow more, and girls will grow pubic hair and breasts, and start getting their period.

15 to 17 years

Typical developmental milestones between 15 years and 17 years:

👥Social and emotional milestones: they will have more interest in romantic relationships and sexuality and have a greater capacity for caring and developing relationships. They will be wanting to spend less time with parents and more time with their friends.

🗣Language and communication milestones: they will be able to communicate fluently and confidently. In school they will be working towards their GCSEs and above and will be learning more about language and how it works. They may be more selective about who they communicate with and choose not to use their communication skills as well with one person as they do with another.

💪Physical milestones: girls will have been maturing at a faster rate than boys and will be further along their progression through puberty than boys. They may be concerned about body image so could be eating or exercising differently to how you might expect.

18-19 years

Typical developmental milestones between 18 years and 19 years:

👥Social and emotional milestones: they will highly value their relationships, and will seek out more adult settings, moving on from “teen” activities. They will be wanting to make their own decisions and want other people to treat them as adults. They will enjoy looking back on their achievements and will want to b given credit for things they have achieved.

🗣Language and communication milestones: they will be able to make their own decisions and talk to you about them. They should be comfortable talking to you.

💪Physical milestones: their growth will have slowed down and they will have nearly finished growing into their adult bodies, however the brain is still developing. Different people develop at different rates so two people of the same age could look very differently.

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