Physical Development

In youth, we clothe ourselves and go brave as the zodiac.                           -Ralph Waldo Emerson.

What I knew

Who does not remember adolescence, a natural stage where our bodies suffer external changes? Thinking about physical development only one word comes up to my mind: “Puberty”. At first, I thought that only external physical changes were happening, for example the rapid gains in height and weight, and the hormones taking control of our life. I knew that in boys, the tone of voice get lower, their muscles increase and mustache and beard appear. In the case of girls I knew that they suffer more, they become a woman when they have their menstrual period, their breast and hips increase.

Also, hair grows in underarms and genitals.

At this stage teenagers are afraid of their appearance, especially when their faces are full of pimples. Besides that, I used to think that girls felt embarrassed about their menstrual period, because they are not part of the group of girls that still are not “growing”. For example, when girls use a bra for the first time, they feel uncomfortable because the other girls may have fun of it. In the case of voice, I saw that many of my classmates did not want to talk anymore, just because their voice had changed. My conclusion at that moment was that the physical changes that we were experimented; they were a problem and an awkward situation.  I am not embarrassed to say that I did not know “anything” about physical development; however, I want to write what I found about this topic.

What I learned

After reading about physical development in adolescents, I have learned that many of my thoughts were in somehow wrong. Probably I just knew the 10% of the information because according to Manning, puberty is just a phase of physiological change triggered by the release of hormones (2012). This means that every single change in our body was normal.

Many theorists share the same meaning of what physical development is. It refers to bodily changes including growth, improved gross and fine motor skills, and biological maturity. What surprised me is that puberty ends long before adolescence is existed (Santrock, 2010 p.52). There are two facts I found very interesting about physical development:

·         Growth in body size

Some body parts grow faster than other. Both girls and boys develop preoccupation with their changing bodies and constantly examine their physical development for signs and imperfections (Milgram, 1992). These changes affect first to girls because their bodies star changing two years earlier than in boys. Bullough stated that in the 1800s boys did not reach their full height until the age 23, now most of the boys reach adult height by age 18 (1981). On the contrary, girls’ physical development appeared with the menarche. According to Santrock (2010) menarche is the appearance of first menstrual period (p. 55-57). Not only girls experiment hormonal changes. For example, in boys the first ejaculation is called spermarche.

·         Hormonal changes (Puberty)

In boys, it is difficult to know exactly when puberty is coming. There are changes that occur only in the boys that make so different from girls, even though girls develop two years earlier than boys. The following are average ages when puberty changes may occur (Lawrence, 1980):

·         Beginning of puberty: 9.5 to 14 years old

·         First pubertal change: enlargement of the testicles

·         Appearance of pubic hair: 13.5 years old

·         Nocturnal emissions (or "wet dreams"): 14 years old

·         Hair under the arms and on the face, voice change, and acne: 15 years old.

Girls also experience puberty as a sequence of events (George & Alexander, 1993). However, their pubertal changes usually begin before boys of the same age. Each girl is different and may progress through these changes differently. The following are average ages when puberty changes may occur:

·         Beginning of puberty: 8 to 13 years

·         First pubertal change: breast development

·         Pubic hair development: shortly after breast development

·         Hair under the arms: 12 years old

·         Menstrual periods: 10 to 16.5 years old

Techniques I will use as a teacher

Knowing of adolescents’ developmental characteristics, it helps me to understand their behavior and the way I will plan mi lesson. Their bodies are changing, it means that teens need the opportunity to stretch and walk around the classroom. Now I know the importance for the warm-ups, practices and wrap-ups. It is not only fill in the blanks worksheets or please just copy what is written on the board. As a teacher I need to create a proactive environment trying to apply the four skills.

Possible activities/ideas to do in the classroom

v  I learned that teenagers may feel uncomfortable with their bodies, and being in front of the classroom will exposed them a lot. So I believe that at the time of making a role-play it will be a great idea to do it in groups. In this way they will feel comfortable with themselves until they can be able to pass in front alone.

v  Creating debates or a circle opinion about why parents do not understand this generation would be a really nice topic for them. They will feel engaged because they will talk about their personal experiences.

v  Another activity would be to ask them to write what they would like to change of their bodies and what are the parts of their bodies they feel more comfortable with. This activity will help them to recognize that even when they are writing bad things about themselves they can discover good things also.

 References

 Inside Puberty: What Are the Stages of Puberty?

Retrieve from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rsj6dW6qKRc  

Physical and Cognitive Development in Adolescence. Student Edition. Chapter 11. 2016. Rretrieve from: http://highered.mheducation.com/sites/0073133809/student_view0/chapter11/index.html

Santrock, J. (2010). Adolescence. New York: McGraw-Hill.