Growth and Development

A closer look at the structure of the breast.

The female pelvic area contains a number of organs and structures: the endometrium, uterus, ovaries, cervix, vagina, and vulva.

A look at average height and weight ranges for kids, based on age.

Girls experience puberty as a sequence of events, and their pubertal changes usually begin before boys of the same age. The first pubertal change in girls usually is breast development.

Breast development happens in certain stages during a woman's life: first before birth, and again at puberty and later during the childbearing years. Changes also happen to the breasts during menstruation and when a woman reaches menopause.

Parents need to realize the rational part of a teen's brain isn't fully developed and won't be until they are 25 years old or so.

Cognitive development means the growth of a child's ability to think and reason. This growth happens differently from ages 6 to 12, and ages 12 to 18.

The teen years bring a focus on social interactions and friendships. This includes same-gender friends, same-gender groups of friends, and cross-gender groups of friends. In addition, sexual maturity triggers teens' interest in dating and sexual relationships.

Encourage your teen to eat three balanced meals a day, with fruits or vegetables as snacks.

For overweight children 7 and older, the initial goal is to keep them from gaining more weight. Changes in eating habits and exercise are gradually introduced to trim pounds.

A woman is generally most fertile (able to become pregnant) a few days before, during, and after ovulation.