Mid-Late Adolescent Milestones

Social justice and understanding-

Develop a strong sense of right and wrong and make decisions based on following their conscience.

May seem self-centered, impulsive, or moody

emotional overload based on inconsistent brain development

The difference in growth between boys and girls is

noticeable at this age.

Males are hitting the age when they start to grow rapidly, while

females are just starting to slow down.

By the end of high school, many girls are likely to

have grown as tall as they’re going to be.

By the end of high school, boys often are still

growing and gaining muscle strength.

Need more sleep and may be

sleepy in school.

Circadian rhythm changes along with

brain development

Research has shown benefits for a later school day in adolescents that

compliments their ‘internal clock’

Cognitively, later adolescents how an increasing ability to

reason, make educated guesses, and sort fact from fiction

Start thinking more

abstractly

Anticipate and come up with ways to

deal with hypothetical situations

Understand the consequences of

actions, both short and longer term

Later adolescence use strategies to

search for, use, and compare information from multiple sources.

Persuasive essays (think : SAT) , DBQs –

using different types of sources of information primary and secondary sources

Can recognize more accurately personal

strengths and challenges

May seem self-centered, impulsive, or moody –

emotional overload based on inconsistent brain development

Appreciate relationships with

siblings within the family over parents

Become more introspective emotionally,

may analyze their own feelings and try to find the cause of them

Ages 16+ start relating to

family better; begin to see parents as “real people”

Develop a better sense of who they are and

what positive things they can contribute to friendships and other relationships.

Are to better resolve conflicts as

increase in adolescents (middle school vs freshmen year vs senior yr).

Narrow down on

friends group.

Improved sense of

belonging