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Adolescence is the period of psychological and social transition between childhood and adulthood (gender-specific manhood, or womanhood). As a transitional stage of human development it represents the period of time during which a juvenile matures into adulthood. more...

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Biological development (that is, puberty) and psychosocial development are largely overlapping during the period of adolescence, however clearer boundaries relate to physical development.

"Adolescence" is a cultural and social phenomenon and therefore its endpoints are not easily tied to physical milestones. The word derives from the Latin verb adolescere meaning "to grow up." The time is identified with dramatic changes in the body, along with developments in a person's psychology and academic career. In the onset of adolescence, children usually complete elementary school and enter secondary education, such as middle school or high school. A person between early childhood and the teenage years is sometimes referred to as a pre-teen or tween.

The ages of adolescence vary by culture. In the United States, adolescence generally begins at age 13, and end at 20. By contrast, the World Health Organization (WHO) defines adolescence as the period of life between 10 and 20 years of age.

During this period of life, most children go through the physical stages of puberty which often begins between the ages of nine and thirteen. Most cultures regard people as becoming adults at various ages of the teenage years. For example, Jewish tradition considers males to be adult members of the community at age 13 and females at age 12, and this transition is celebrated in the Bat Mitzvah for girls and the Bar Mitzvah for boys. Young Catholics have the sacrament of confirmation and then are full members of the community. Usually, there is a formal age of majority when adolescents formally become adults. For example, Japan's celebration of this is called seijin shiki (lit. "adult ceremony").

Puberty

Puberty is the stage of the human lifespan in which a child develops secondary sex characteristics as his or her hormonal balance shifts strongly towards an adult state. This is triggered by the pituitary gland, which secretes a surge of hormones into the blood stream and begins the rapid maturation of the gonads: the girl's ovaries and the boy's testicles. Girls tend to enter puberty approximately a year earlier than boys.

The onset of puberty in girls is also related to body fat percentage. In most Western countries, the average age of menarche fell in a secular trend over the last century, most likely due to improved nutrition and increased caloric intake.

Preteens

The word preteen describes a child a bit younger than a teenager; perhaps between the ages of about 10 and 12. The neologism tween has the same meaning, but isn't in general use as either a colloquial or scientific term. This word comes from the age being between that of a child and a teenager.