Parents are often worried or confused by changes in their teenagers. The following information should help parents understand this phase of development. Each teenager is an individual with a unique personality and special interests, likes and dislikes. However, there are also numerous developmental issues that everyone faces during the adolescent years. The normal feelings and behaviors of the late high school adolescent are described below. Movement towards Independence
Future Interests and Cognitive Changes
Sexuality
Morals, Values, and Self-Direction
Teenagers do vary slightly from the above descriptions, but the feelings and behaviors
are, in general, considered normal for each stage of adolescence. If you find Facts for Families© helpful and would like to make good mental health a reality for all children, click here to donate to the Campaign for America’s Kids. Your support will help us continue to produce and distribute Facts for Families, as well as other vital mental health information, free of charge. You may also mail in your contribution. Please make checks payable to the AACAP and send to Campaign for America’s Kids, P.O. Box 96106, Washington, DC 20090. The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) represents over 7,000 child and adolescent psychiatrists who are physicians with at least five years of additional training beyond medical school in general (adult) and child and adolescent psychiatry. Facts for Families© information sheets are developed, owned and distributed by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP). Hard copies of Facts sheets may be reproduced for personal or educational use without written permission, but cannot be included in material presented for sale or profit. All Facts can be viewed and printed from the AACAP website (www.aacap.org). Facts sheets many not be reproduced, duplicated or posted on any other Internet website without written consent from AACAP. Organizations are permitted to create links to AACAP’s website and specific Facts sheets. To purchase complete sets of Facts for Families, please contact the AACAP Circulation Clerk at 800.333.7636, ext. 131. Copyright © 2004 by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Please read this disclaimer. [Facts For Families Main Menu] [Spanish] [Deutsch] [French] About AACAP | What's New? | Members Only | Facts for Families Press Releases | Legislation | Meetings | Journal & Publications | Award Opportunities Clinical Practice | Research | Training | Regional Organizations Membership | JobSource | Resource Links |