Physical Changes

At adolescence - a period ranging in most children from 11 — 18 years, but earlier in onset for girls than for boys — a number of physical changes occur which can be a source of great embarrassment and perplexity to children. The rapid bodily growth known as the “adolescent growth spurt” causes a sudden increase in height and an elongation of the arms and the legs which now seem to be too long. They therefore look and feel clumsy and awkward, they easily bump into objects and people and they drop things often. All these changes induce self consciousness and easy embarrassment in them. The rapid growth is also often accompanied by restlessness due to energy that becomes readily available and which must be dissipated but which once dissipated is followed by sudden fatigue.