Pediatric Stages of Development: Developmental Theory Applied to a 12-year-old child (Health, Medicine, Nursing Essay)

Pediatric Stages of Development: Developmental Theory Applied to a 12-year-old child
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Pediatric Stages of Development: Developmental Theory Applied to a 12-year-old child
A 12-year-old child is in the early stages of adolescence, and many changes are taking place in their body. Curtis (2015) says that adolescence begins at ten and ends at 18 years but may adjust between 9 and 26 years. Twelve years is often the preface for the adolescent stage, and several physical, emotional, and psychological developments occur at this stage. Such developments have proven a challenge for nurses to assess adolescent children.
At twelve years, teenagers undergo puberty development, which includes sexual maturity. Girls begin experiencing their menstruation and other sexual development characteristics like breast development and growing pubic hair. Boys, on the other hand, grow hair on their face, pubic region, and chest as the voice deepens. These physical developments are often come with hormonal production related to sexual desires, inquiry, and attraction. The adolescents also face a decision-making crisis at the stage that may result in health problems like contracting STIs and early pregnancies (Falkner, n.d.).
Erickson (2017), in his developmental theory, links children at 12 years old to a psychological crisis of competencies that makes one either industrious or feel inferior. Children begin to learn different things on their own in this stage. Peer significance also begins to take the course at the age of 10-12 years, and thus it becomes the primary source of self-esteem of the child. They become to feel the urge to win approvals by demonstrating their competencies valued by society and taking pride over their accomplishments. The children start to be industrious if society does not acknowledge and encourage their abilities and achievements. Thi...