Adolescence is a time of change. As a parent you may find yourself wondering whether the changes you see in your youth are normal, or whether they should be a cause for concern. While each teenager is unique, The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) offers the following feelings and behaviors as normal adolescent behavior.
The teenage years are marked by trying on independence through experimentation. Typical teen behavior includes many things that seem strange to parents. Dyed hair, odd piercings, strange music and even new friends are all part of growing up for some teens. And some teenagers also choose this period in life as a time to experiment with alcohol and drugs, and sometimes sex. Also, the hormonal changes in a teenager's body can produce moodiness. A teen's brain is still developing, so some parts of the brain that house logical thinking and memory are not fully formed and can lead to lapses of judgment and sometimes risky behavior. Additionally, a desire for independence and becoming one's own person can lead teenagers to distance themselves from their families.
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