Question

How is adolescence different from childhood?

Answer 1

Adolescence is the period of transition between childhood and adulthood. Children who are entering adolescence are going through many changes (physical, intellectual, personality and social developmental). Adolescence begins at puberty, which now occurs earlier, than in the past. Puberty is the period when the primary sex organs become functional and start secreting sex hormones which bring about the development of the secondary sex organs and appearance of secondary sex characters. As a result, sexual maturity is attained. The average age of onset for girls is 10-12 years old and for boys, 12-14 years old. In boys, pubertal changes occur in response to testosterone and in girls, in response to estrogen.