12 Years
Age: 12 Years
Source: Child Development
Developmental Milestone
Physical: Typically, this is the age when boys will start going through puberty. Physically, your child will be growing taller. Since their body is growing and changing, they may become more clumsy. They’ll see more body changes, such as more body hair, and their voice will sound deeper. Girls start puberty a little earlier. For females, this is the most common age when they start their period.
Brain Development: They can tackle more complicated problems. Try talking to your child more and asking their decisions on their opinion since they’re developing their own sense of reason and their own sense of what is right and wrong. They also will show signs of leadership and may want to give back to their community. They can think outside of the box. Their prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain that controls organization and impulse control, is not yet fully developed. This means that your child may act without thinking about the consequences of their actions.
Language: They may begin to talk sarcastically and mean it.
Did you Know?
Did you know? A 12-year-old’s brain has stopped growing in size, but it is still developing.
Did you know? Males will begin to grow taller by almost 4 inches within this one year.
Life Skills Self Confidence
Puberty is a sign that your child is becoming a mature young man or woman. This period, as stated before, comes with a lot of physical and emotional changes. Understand that all these changes, along with the emotional ups and downs caused by hormones, may take a toll on their self-esteem. Self-Esteem is how kids see themselves and are often based on how well they do things. It is also shaped by how much love, support, encouragement, and criticism they get from people around them. It is not something that can be measured, but it can be seen from their actions and how children express themselves. In children aged 9 to 13, we see a drop in self-esteem as kids become more separated from their sense of childhood. To help your child, help them create different sources of self-esteem measurements for your children. Low self-esteem can also come from an unhealthy pressure to do well, from criticisms of failures, and when expectations are not met. It’s important to help your child learn to be understanding of themselves. Help them also to view themselves beyond just one aspect of their lives. Let them realize that their self worth is not based on how well they do in school, how well they do in sports, or how many friends they have. It is easier for a child to grow healthier self-esteem when their identity is not just based on one part of their life. It’s also noted that when we have low self-esteem, we tend to view ourselves in a bad light. In turn, when we feel bad about ourselves, we tend to mistreat others, and then guilt sets in. It creates a downward cycle of negativity. Low-esteem within families can be destructive. High esteemed families are actually encouraging and bring out the best in each other. Building self-esteem in our kids can include focusing on their strengths, letting them make their own choices, and letting them take healthy risks. Check out these resources on how we can create healthy self-esteem within our children and help them make confident, positive, and responsible life choices. [Article]
Social-Emotional Milestone
Although they have a better grasp of their feelings and how to express it, hormones will affect their sense of self-confidence and self-image. Friendships are highly important to them, and interactions with the opposite sex are becoming important too. You might find your child spending more time with their friends than the family. You may also find them more likely to ignore you and may be more likely to break the rules. Remember to be patient and understanding even at this time.
Action Items
You may have to address sensitive topics such as sex and drugs. Allowing their questions to be answered may increase their resistance against unhealthy peer pressure.
Take an interest in their academic performance.
Encourage them to complete their schoolwork, and work with their teachers and ask for ways on how you can help.
Get to know their friends and make sure you have a set emergency plan when they go out with friends.
Encourage their involvement in the neighborhood, at school, and even making decisions at home.