Supporting your teen’s independence
Your young teen (12, 13 and 14) might only just have started puberty. Older teens (from ages 15 to 18) are on the way to maturing physically.
Alongside this physical growth come changes to how they think and feel.
When you encourage your teenager to build a strong sense of identity, it helps them become more confident.
It also supports their independence and protects their mental health and wellbeing.
Brain development in teenagers
The teenage years are a time of enormous change inside the brain.
These changes can affect your teen’s behaviour and the way they express and manage their emotions.
You can encourage behaviour that strengthens positive connections in your child’s brain.
Watch this video on the Spark their Future website to learn what’s going on in the teen brain.
Visit the Raising Children Network website to understand teenage brain development and find behaviour strategies.
Sense of self
A sense of self is about self-identity.
It relates to our perceptions of who we are and how we fit into the world based on our experiences and beliefs about ourselves.
Teenagers who have a strong sense of identity are better equipped to navigate school life, deal with peer pressure and face adversity.
You can foster your teen’s self-identity by reinforcing their positive qualities and strengths.
Read this article by Monash University to find out more about self-identity.
Gender identity
Some people don’t identify with the sex they were assigned at birth (for example, ‘male’ or ‘female’). They might choose to identify as:
- transgender
- gender diverse
- non-binary.
In their teens, your child might start to reflect on how they identify.
It’s important to listen and provide support to any child or young person who might not identify with their assigned gender. This significantly protects their mental health and wellbeing.
Visit the headspace website to understand your role in supporting gender diverse young people.
Download a guide to supporting your trans.
