Puberty is an amazing time for every child. During this special time, not only does a child’s height change significantly, but also his or her physical characteristics change gradually. The timing and speed of development during puberty varies from child to child, from early to late, from fast to slow. So what is the age of puberty? Generally girls develop about two years earlier than boys, usually starting around age 10 for girls and age 12 for boys. Puberty usually lasts 5-7 years, and the development of secondary sexual characteristics is an important sign of puberty! Although there will be individual variability, puberty is usually considered to last until the age of 18-20. Most physical development in boys and girls stops after the age of 17. Girls tend to develop earlier and are more easily recognized by the effects of puberty hormones. Careful parents can notice early on that girls have bulging breasts, nodules under the nipples or even tenderness, and their height and weight change significantly, all of which are signs of puberty in girls. The development of secondary sexual characteristics in girls during puberty begins with the development of breasts, followed by the gradual appearance of pubic and axillary hair, and then the increase in vaginal secretion, which leads to the first menstruation. If a girl does not have pubic hair by the age of 13 and has not yet had her period by the age of 14, this indicates a delay in sexual maturity. At this point, parents must take their child to a hospital for professional medical attention. Boys’ development, on the other hand, is relatively insidious and not easily detected. Pubertal development in boys is usually characterized by the enlargement of the testicles as the first manifestation, after which the growth of pubic hair, the enlargement of the penis, the thickening of the voice, the prominence of the laryngeal nodes, the increase of muscles, and the acceleration of height growth, as well as the phenomenon of seminal emission in some boys. In adolescence, the child’s psychological and mental maturity will gradually increase as he grows older, and his body is at its most rapid stage of growth. Parents are advised to analyze their children’s physical development, replenish their bodies with the nutrients they need, and try to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables to achieve a balanced nutrition. If there are any adverse physical reactions or other discomfort, you should go to the hospital in time for examination to ensure the normal development of your child. In addition to paying attention to children’s body, we should pay more attention to their psychological health, and we should help adolescents to establish healthy habits and a correct world view, so that they can grow up strongly and smoothly through adolescence. References: [1] Du Jun. How to rationalize adolescent health problems [J]. Health Must Read. 2020,3: 122 [2] Ouyang Jun. The unspeakable problems of adolescent girls [J]. Adolescent Health, 2021,6: 90-91