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Developmental milestones 11 to 14 years
Physical development
- If a girl, reaches peak of growth spurt
- If a girl, adds more body fat than muscle
- If a girl, starts to menstruate
- If a boy, begins growth spurt
- If a boy, starts to ejaculate seminal fluid
- Likely to become aware of sexual orientation
- If a girl, motor performance gradually increases and then levels off
Cognitive development
- Becomes capable of formal operational reasoning
- Becomes better at coordinating theory with evidence
- Can argue more effectively
- Becomes more self-conscious and self-focused
- Becomes more idealistic and critical
- Metacognition and cognitive self-regulation continue to improve
- Evaluates vocational options in terms of interests
Social and emotional development
- Moodiness and parent–child conflict increase
- Is likely to show increased gender stereotyping of attitudes and behavior
- As strives for autonomy, spends less time with parents and siblings
- Spends more time with peers
- Friendships are based on intimacy and loyalty
- Peer groups become organized around cliques
- Cliques with similar values form crowds
- Conformity to peer pressure increases
Language development
- Vocabulary continues to increase as abstract words are added
- Grasps irony, sarcasm, and figurative language, such as proverbs
- Understanding and use of complex grammatical constructions continue to improve
- Can make subtle adjustments in speech style, depending on the situation
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