Physical Development

  • Continue to experience body changes related to puberty. Generally, males develop about 2 years later than females.
  • Menstruation usually occurs in females by age 16.
  • Ejaculation usually able to occur in males by age 15.

Developmental Changes

  • Begin to feel the need to assert independence and make decisions on their own.
  • More focused on appearance.
  • Start to think about the future, however may have difficulty appreciating that decisions made now can affect their future.
  • Begin to define own personal values based on a combination of family, peer and societal values.
  • May feel alone; that other people just don't 'get' them and that no one has ever experienced what they are going through.

Normative Sexual Behaviours

  • Very interested in sexualized media.
  • Masturbation for pleasurable sexual feeling.
  • Significant modesty regarding own nudity and sexual behaviour with family members and adults; may be much more relaxed and immodest with friends.
  • Sexual language and jokes with peers.
  • Sexual innuendo and flirting, wanting to date.
  • Sexual courtship behaviours (increase in consensual kissing, sexual touching, and intercourse with peer-aged partners throughout this time span).
  • May experiment with individual of the same or opposite sex. This is not necessarily indicative of sexual preference.
  • Feeling pressured by peers to engage in sexual activities.

Information on physical and developmental changes adapted with permission from calgaryhealthregion.ca.
Information on normative behaviour from CPRI Sexuality Education Manual.