How do children aged 13 to 17 develop?

The development of adolescents between the ages of 13 and 17, also known as adolescence, is a time of rapid change and transformation. During this phase, teenagers go through numerous developmental stages that shape their physical, cognitive and social development. Many parents find it difficult to keep up with and deal with the rapid changes. Their child, who was snuggled up to them just a short time ago, is now slamming the door in their face. How can you be there for someone who turns away? This is the question that many parents face. But in order to find their own identity, many young people need a certain distance from the people closest to them.

Physical development: During puberty, teenagers experience a growth spurt in which they gain height and weight. This leads to the development of primary and secondary sexual characteristics. Hormonal changes lead to physical changes such as the growth of breasts or a boy's voice breaking. There is also hair growth, hormonal changes, the development of unpleasant body odours, sometimes skin blemishes and acne.

Sensation seeking develops faster in the brain than impulse control, which can lead to increased risk-taking behaviour. In the course of puberty, many boys also experience an increase in strength and struggle more frequently with aggression and outbursts of anger. Regular sport and sufficient exercise can help teenagers to get their behaviour under control. At the same time, boys can get used to the new balance of power in their bodies and learn to deal with it. Girls at the age of 13 are on average two years ahead of boys of the same age in terms of development. Women's physical development is already complete by the age of around 17.

Cognitive development: The ability to think abstractly continues to develop during this time. Young people are better able to draw logical conclusions, solve complex problems and adopt different perspectives. They begin to develop their own ideas, values and beliefs and question existing norms and authorities. However, although adolescent girls and boys often appear self-confident and independent to the outside world, they still feel insecure.

Teenagers believe that their own experiences are extraordinary and unique.

Psychological changes: Teenagers often experience intense emotional highs and lows as a result of these hormonal, physical and neurophysiological changes. «They switch quickly between different moods and experience feelings more intensely - or at least they have the feeling that they are experiencing emotions more intensely,» says Moritz Daum, Professor of Developmental Psychology.

This leads to something like «adolescent egocentrism»: among other things, this includes the distorted assumption that the world is focused on one's own person (everyone is watching you) and sometimes leads to critical behaviour towards authorities. This goes hand in hand with the so-called «imaginary audience», the belief that one is at the centre of other people's attention and concern, i.e. that one is constantly the focus of an imaginary audience. A third aspect is the so-called «personal fable», according to which one's own experiences are extraordinary and unique. At the same time, people believe in their own invulnerability, which encourages risk-taking behaviour.

Social skills: Social skills develop through interaction with peers and the expansion of the social environment. Young people learn to build relationships, show empathy and overcome conflicts. Friendships, falling in love and first romantic relationships play a decisive role in this phase of development. Young people look for a sense of belonging and social support. They develop close friendships that help them to form their identity and strengthen their social skills. Friendships provide feedback that is independent of the parental home, which is important for the development of autonomy.

In the peer group, they explore their own identity, try things out and get feedback. This helps them to develop values and interests and also to reject things again. Friendships offer emotional support: Because friendships are often based on «similarity», you get the feeling that you are understood and perhaps also find comfort (for example, if your parents have been so terribly unfair again and don't understand how you are feeling). Overall, it is important for teenagers to belong, especially because they are in a phase of major change, which can be unsettling.

Fears at this age: Teenagers can experience various fears, such as the fear of rejection, failure at school, insecurity about their identity or not living up to their parents' expectations. These fears can affect their self-esteem and mental health. Teenagers often feel that they are suddenly confronted with the seriousness of life: No one just smiles at them the way they do with young children. They are expected to do well at school and are told that they are heading for a career.

Last but not least, young people between the ages of 13 and 19 increasingly look at themselves from a different perspective. They are more critical of themselves and more likely to throw in the towel. All of this together is an ideal breeding ground for worries and fears. Numerous studies also show that young people have an increased risk of mental health problems such as depression and anxiety disorders during this time. At the same time, they also show increased creativity, a heightened interest in social and political issues and an improvement in their problem-solving skills.

Attachment to parents: Attachment to parents changes during the teenage years. Teenagers increasingly strive for independence and develop a stronger identification with their peers. Nevertheless, the support and availability of parents remains important in order to provide security and emotional stability. «As parents, you simply have to be available when children are looking for contact and want to talk,» says Oskar Jenni, paediatrician and professor of developmental paediatrics. «The main task of parents in adolescence is to offer psychological security and create an atmosphere in which children can tell everything.»

Communication with teenagers can still be challenging. There are often arguments and some parents perceive their children as rebellious. However, this is not the case for all teenagers; a protesting attitude towards parents is not in itself a criterion for successful development. «An adolescent girl or boy can re-examine her identity and her place in the world without rebelling,» says Heidi Simoni.