Striving to Be Ideal

As a child develops into Middle Childhood they become even more aware of themselves.  Puberty is one of the big milestones that children reach in adolescence. This process normally starts between ages 8 and 14 (Berger, 323).  The average age of menarche among normal-weight girls is about 12 years old (Berger, 323). For boys, the typical age of spermarche is just under 13 years old (Berger, 323).  During this stage of life sexual interest leads to joyful actions and emotions, as well as many potential problems for the person and society.

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Early-maturing girls tend to have lower self-esteem, depression, and poorer body image than other girls do (Berger,329) .  While early-maturing boys are more aggressive, law breakers, and alcohol abusers (Berger, 329). As a result, they have more trouble with parent’s, school, and the police.  All of the changes of puberty depend on adequate nourishment. The bones lengthen and harden causing children to eat more and gain weight. Teenagers often skip breakfast, eat midnight snacks, and constantly drink soda.

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One reason for poor nutrition among teens is anxiety about body image.  It is common for teens to not welcome every physical change in their bodies (Berger, 328).  Instead they exaggerate on their imperfections and sacrifice future health to improve their current body image.  Girls tend to diet because they want to be thinner (Berger, 329). Girls want to be thinner to appeal to the ideal image that boys want to date.  On the other hand boys want to appear taller and stronger because girls value well-developed muscles in males (Berger, 329). In many nations the ideal body type is tall and thin.