D. Healthy Living · Healthy Living

Growing Up: Physical, Social and Emotional Changes in Adolescence

D2.5 A1.1 A1.4 A1.5About 45 minutes

Learning goals

I can describe physical, social and emotional changes that happen during adolescence.
I can explain how understanding these changes helps me feel confident.
I can explain how understanding these changes helps me build healthy relationships.

Words to know

adolescence
The time of life between childhood and adulthood, roughly from the start of puberty through the teen years.

puberty
The stage when the body changes from a child's body to an adult's body, started by hormones.

hygiene
Things you do to keep your body clean and healthy, such as washing, using deodorant and brushing your teeth.

peers
People about your own age, like classmates and friends.

confidence
Believing in yourself and feeling okay about who you are.

crush
Strong feelings of liking or being attracted to someone.

A time of big changes

You've already learned a lot about puberty: how hormones start body changes, and how the reproductive system works. But growing up isn't only about your body. During adolescence, your friendships, your feelings and how you see yourself change too. Understanding all three kinds of change helps you feel more confident and helps you build healthy relationships. That's today's lesson.

Remember from Grades 4 and 5

In Grade 4 you learned the main physical changes of puberty and how to keep clean. In Grade 5 you learned the parts of the reproductive system, how menstruation and sperm production work, and ways to handle puberty stress. This year you'll connect body changes to social and emotional changes, and to relationships.

Kind of change	Examples
Physical	Growth spurts; voice changes; skin changes such as oilier skin and pimples; more sweat and body odour; body hair; changes in body shape; for many, periods or sperm production begin. Changes happen at different times for everyone.
Social	Changing friendships (some grow closer, some drift apart); the opinions of peers start to matter more; wanting more independence and privacy; new responsibilities; spending more time online with friends
Emotional	Stronger feelings that can change quickly; feeling self-conscious; new interest in relationships (such as crushes, or none yet, which is also normal); confusion and questions about the changes

Physical, social and emotional changes during adolescence.

The three kinds of change overlap. For example, pimples (physical) can make someone feel self-conscious (emotional) and worry about what peers think (social).

Why do feelings get so strong?

The hormones that change your body also affect your mood. Your brain is also changing and growing. The part that handles feelings tends to develop before the part that helps with planning and self-control, which keeps developing into your twenties. So you might feel excited, annoyed, embarrassed or sad more strongly than before, sometimes all in one day. That's normal. It doesn't mean something is wrong with you.

How understanding builds confidence

When you know what's happening and why, changes are less scary. You can:

take care of your body (a hygiene routine, enough sleep, healthy food, activity),
recognize that a strong feeling will pass, and use your calming strategies,
remember that everyone is going through changes, on their own timeline,
ask questions of trusted adults and reliable sources instead of worrying alone.

The part of the brain that handles feelings tends to develop before the part that helps with planning and self-control. That's one reason strong feelings are normal right now, and they pass.

How understanding builds healthy relationships

With friends: knowing that friendships change helps you handle it calmly when someone drifts away, and make new friends who share your interests and values.
With peers: knowing peers influence you more helps you think for yourself and choose friends who respect you.
With family: wanting more independence is normal; talking about it (instead of slamming doors) helps families find a good balance of trust and responsibility.
With yourself: treating yourself with kindness while you change is the foundation for all your other relationships.
Crushes: having a crush, or not having one, is normal. Feelings are private, and you get to decide whether to share them. Others' feelings deserve respect too.

A body-care routine that builds confidence

Shower or bathe regularly, especially after activity. Use deodorant or antiperspirant.
Wash your face gently once or twice a day; try not to pick pimples.
Change underwear and socks every day, and wash sports clothes after use.
Brush your teeth twice a day and floss.
If you have periods, keep pads, tampons or period underwear in your bag.
Sleep 9 to 11 hours. Growing bodies and brains need it.

Worked example

Let's sort the changes

Sort these into physical, social or emotional: voice cracking; caring a lot about what classmates think of your shoes; feeling furious, then laughing ten minutes later; a new friend group; pimples; feeling confused about a crush.

Physical: voice cracking, pimples.
Social: caring what classmates think (peer influence), a new friend group (changing friendships).
Emotional: quick, strong mood changes; confusion about a crush.
Notice that many changes connect: pimples (physical) can make someone feel self-conscious (emotional) and worry what peers think (social).

All three kinds of change are a normal part of adolescence, and they affect each other.

Worked example

Let's build confidence through a change

Jordan's voice has started cracking during class presentations. Some kids laugh. Jordan wants to skip his next presentation.

Understand it: voice changes are a normal physical change of puberty. Many people's voices crack while the voice box grows.
Notice the feeling: embarrassment (emotional) and worry about peers (social).
Use a strategy: practise at home, take a slow breath before speaking, and remind himself, "This is temporary and normal."
Use relationships: he could tell a trusted friend or the teacher, who can help stop the laughing.
Result: he does the presentation. It's not perfect, but he feels proud.

Understanding the change helped Jordan feel confident instead of ashamed.

Hands-on activity

Question box and confidence card

You need: a small box or envelope, slips of paper, a pencil, and a trusted grown-up.

Write any questions you have about growing up (physical, social or emotional) on slips. No names needed.
Once a week, open the box with your grown-up and find answers together, using reliable sources (your doctor, school nurse, public health unit website, or a book your grown-up chooses).
Make a confidence card: write three things you like about yourself that have nothing to do with looks, plus one calming strategy and one person you can talk to. Keep it somewhere private.

What to look for: honest questions taken seriously, and a confidence card focused on strengths, values and skills.

Your turn

What is adolescence?

Name two physical changes in adolescence.

Name two social changes.

Name two emotional changes.

Why can feelings feel stronger during adolescence?

How can understanding these changes build confidence?

Give one hygiene habit that helps during puberty.

More practice: warm-up

True or false: everyone goes through puberty at the same time.

True or false: it's normal to have a crush, and also normal not to.

Is "my best friend and I are drifting apart" a physical, social or emotional change?

How many hours of sleep do 11-year-olds need?

Is a voice cracking a physical, social or emotional change?

More practice: on your own

Why do peers' opinions often matter more in adolescence, and why is it important to still think for yourself?

A friend says, "My parents are so annoying, they won't give me any privacy." How could understanding adolescence help?

Explain how a physical change can lead to an emotional change. Give an example.

Name two reliable places to get answers about growing up.

Your friend has a crush and tells you in confidence. What should you do?

Challenge

Explain how understanding all three kinds of change can help a person have healthier relationships. Give one example for each kind.

Someone in your class is teasing a classmate who started puberty early. Why is this unfair, and what could you do?

Write a short note of advice to a Grade 5 student who is nervous about adolescence.

Check your understanding

Quiz

Which is a social change in adolescence?

Which is an emotional change?

Puberty starts...

Why can moods be stronger in adolescence?

How does understanding these changes build confidence?

A friend tells you about their crush. You should...

For parents and teachers

Big idea: This lesson covers the Grade 6 expectation to describe how they can build confidence and lay a foundation for healthy relationships by acquiring a clearer understanding of the physical, social and emotional changes that occur during adolescence (e.g., physical: voice changes, skin changes, body growth; social: changing social relationships, increasing influence of peers; emotional: increased intensity of feelings, new interest in relationships, confusion and questions about changes) (D2.5). It builds emotion skills (A1.1), relationship skills (A1.4) and self-awareness (A1.5).

About this content: This lesson is part of Ontario's human development and sexual health expectations for Grade 6. In Ontario, parents may request that their child be exempted (opted out) of human development and sexual health instruction at school; ask your school about its process. If your family has opted out, you may skip this lesson at home too, or teach the topic in your own way and in line with your family's values.

This lesson does not describe sexual activity. It mentions crushes only as a normal feeling that some children have and some don't.

How to help at home:

Normalize: "Everyone goes through this, including me at your age."
Stock basic hygiene supplies (deodorant, face wash, period products) and let your child choose some.
Expect more need for privacy and independence; talk about it calmly.
Use the question box: short, honest answers are best, and "Let me find out" is fine.

Common difficulties: embarrassment (normal; keep a calm tone); comparing their development with friends'. If you have concerns about very early or late puberty, talk to your doctor.