Supporting your young person's development: 9-18 years
Throughout their pre-teen (9-11 years) and teenage years (12-18 years), children undergo significant brain growth and development.
During this time, they will experience changes in their physical bodies, and social and emotional development.
You can support your young person’s development by:
- ensuring they get enough sleep
- encouraging healthy relationships
- promoting regular physical activity
- providing balanced nutrition.
For more suggestions visit the Raising Children Network.
The QRious Health Hub for young people has a range of resources to help young people maintain a healthy body and mind.
Most children find it hard to pay attention, manage big feelings or control impulsive behaviour some of the time.
The Child Development Service has developed resources to support families of school aged children (over 5 years) who experience difficulties with attention, regulation and concentration.
Positive emotional development will help teens form their identity, form strong relationships and manage their emotions.
See the links below for more information about emotional development.
Be a role model for the healthy eating habits that you want your teen to maintain as they develop.
Discussing mental health with young people is important to support them to develop resilience, manage stress and maintain healthy relationships.
Addressing mental health issues early can reduce long-term impacts.
For more information see the following links.
Being a teenager can be exciting, challenging, and full of change.
Teenagers need parent and family support as much as they did when they were younger.
If you're a parent or carer of a teen, there are a range of free and confidential services available to support you. Whether you're navigating communication, mental health, school stress, or just want to strengthen your relationship, help is available.
- School Health Nurses | Child and Adolescent Health Service: information on services available in your community
- Ngala Parenting Line: (08) 9368 9368
- Teenagers, parents and family relationships | Raising Children Network
Pre-teens and teenagers need light, moderate and vigorous physical activity each day. This can be planned exercise, like going for a run, or activities like walking or riding to school.
A healthy lifestyle balances physical activity, homework, screen time and other activities.
Visit the link below for information and ideas to support physical activity for your young person.
Healthy relationships with peers and adults are important for pre-teen and teen development.
For more information on supporting your child to build positive relationships visit the following link.
For healthy development, it’s important to manage your teen’s screen time.
The amount of sleep that teens need can vary a lot and can also be different each day. See the links below for more information about sleep.
- School age and pre-teen (5-11 years): Sleep for kids and pre-teens: 5-11 years | Raising Children Network
- Teenagers (12-18 years): Sleep and teenagers: 12-18 years | Raising Children Network
Pre-teens and teens go through many physical, emotional, social and cognitive changes in adolescence. Click on the links below to learn about ways to support your child through these changes.