What Happens at 14?

At 14, teenagers experience significant cognitive and social-emotional developments.

Key Milestones at 14

According to the provided reference, "14-Year-Old Milestones," here’s what typically happens at 14:

Complex Thinking: Individuals begin to engage in more complex thought processes.
- They may start to consider broader perspectives beyond their immediate surroundings.
- They begin thinking about the world outside their community.
Developing Communication: While communication skills and emotional expression are improving, they might communicate less with family.
- They tend to confide more in their friends than their parents or guardians.
- This shift to sharing with peers highlights the increasing importance of peer relationships during this stage.

Area	Changes
Cognitive	Engage in complex thought processes. Consider the world beyond their community.
Social-Emotional	May communicate less with family. Prefer to confide in friends.

Example: A 14-year-old might begin to question societal norms and think about global issues like climate change. This demonstrates a shift toward complex thinking.
Example: A teenager may prefer to discuss their feelings about a school dance with friends rather than with a parent. This illustrates a shift towards peer reliance.
Practical Tip: Understanding that a 14-year-old is developing their independence can help parents navigate these changes more effectively.