Developmental Milestones for 15-17 Year Olds

Emotional/Social Changes

Children in this age group might:

• Have more interest in the opposite sex
• Go through less conflict with parents
• Show more independence from parents
• Have a deeper capacity for caring and sharing and for developing more intimate relationships
• Spend less time with parents and more time with friends
• Feel a lot of sadness or depression, which can lead to poor grades at school, alcohol or drug use, unsafe sex, and other problems

Thinking and Learning

Children in this age group might:

• Learn more defined work habits
• Show more concern about future school and work plans
• Be better able to give reasons for their own choices, including about what is right or wrong

When a Neuropsychological Evaluation or Consultation may be appropriate:

• Your child struggles to complete tests within the allotted time.
• Your child complains of attention problems for the first time.
• Your child can’t independently manage the organizational demands of high school.
• Your child is disengaged from the learning process.
• Your child has withdrawn from their peer group and has become increasingly isolated.
• Your child has had repeated concussions and complains of memory difficulties.
• Your child’s self-confidence towards learning appears eroded.
• Your child’s medical team has raised concern about how their past history may impact learning.
• Your child’s behavior is radically different at home than in school.

Positive Parenting Tips

Following are some things you, as a parent, can do to help your teen during this time:

• Talk with your teen about her concerns and pay attention to any changes in her behavior. Ask her if she has had suicidal thoughts, particularly if she seems sad or depressed. Asking about suicidal thoughts will not cause her to have these thoughts, but it will let her know that you care about how she feels. Seek professional help if necessary.
• Show interest in your teen’s school and extracurricular interests and activities and encourage him to become involved in activities such as sports, music, theater, and art.
• Encourage your teen to volunteer and become involved in civic activities in her community.
• Compliment your teen and celebrate his efforts and accomplishments.
• Show affection for your teen. Spend time together doing things you enjoy.
• Respect your teen’s opinion. Listen to her without playing down her concerns.
• Encourage your teen to develop solutions to problems or conflicts. Help your teenager learn to make good decisions. Create opportunities for him to use his own judgment, and be available for advice and support.
• If your teen engages in interactive internet media such as games, chat rooms, and instant messaging, encourage her to make good decisions about what she posts and the amount of time she spends on these activities.
• If your teen works, use the opportunity to talk about expectations, responsibilities, and other ways of behaving respectfully in a public setting.
• Talk with your teen and help him plan ahead for difficult or uncomfortable situations. Discuss what he can do if he is in a group and someone is using drugs or under pressure to have sex, or is offered a ride by someone who has been drinking.
• Respect your teen’s need for privacy.
• Encourage your teen to get enough sleep and exercise, and to eat healthy, balanced meals.

Information Source: Some of the information in this section was sourced at Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). CDC.gov (www.cdc.gov) is your online source for credible health information and is the official Web site of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).