Early Adolescence: 11 Through 14 Year Visits

The early adolescent is embarking on a journey of remarkable transitions and transformations—physically, cognitively, emotionally, and socially—and the pace at which he experiences these physical and emotional changes varies widely. The onset of puberty is one indicator that the adolescent phase of life is beginning. Puberty typically manifests itself visibly with breast development at about age 9 or 10 years for girls, and testicular enlargement for boys at about age 11 years. Many youth have some degree of pubertal developmental as they enter early adolescence. Breast development occurs about 1 year earlier in girls of normal weight who are non-Hispanic...