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Learning Activity Sheet
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
Quarter 1: Module 3
Why Am I Like This?
Department of Education
Region VIII – Eastern Visayas
Division of Northern Samar
Allen 1 District
ALLEN NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
Allen, Northern Samar
School ID: 303531
LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEET
Why Am I Like This?
I. Background Information for Learners
Lesson 1
Development Tasks and Challenges experienced during Adolescence
Adolescence is a period of transition when the individual changes—physically and
psychologically—from a child to an adult. It is a period when rapid physiological and
psychological changes demand new social roles to take place. Prior to these
changes, the adolescents often face a number of crises and dilemmas. It is the
period when the child moves from dependency to autonomy. It demands significant
adjustment to the physical and social changes.
It is a fact that all living beings pass through specific stages or phases of
development. Erikson believed that each stage of life is marked by a specific crisis or
conflict between competing tendencies. If individuals know how to negotiate each of
these hurdles successfully, they can develop in a normal and healthy way of life.
During this phase, adolescents must integrate various roles into a consistent self-
identity. If they fail to do so, they may experience confusion over who they are.
Physical changes during Adolescence - At a glance
For girls, you might start to see early physical changes from about 10 or 11 years,
but they might start as early as 8 years or as old as 13 years. These physical
changes during puberty include:
• development of breast
• changes in body shape and height
• growth of pubic and body hair
• onset of menstruation or monthly period
For boys, physical changes usually start at around 11 or 12 years, but they might
start as young as 9 years or as old as 14 years. These physical changes include:
growth of the penis and testes (testicles)
changes in body shape and height
erections with ejaculation
growth of body and facial hair
changes in voice.
Body Image Concerns
It is within the context described above that children and adolescents begin to
form their perception of their own bodies – their body image. Body image can be
defined as the subjective evaluation of one’s body and appearance (Smolak &
Thompson 2009). Related to one’s body and appearance, this comprises thoughts
(e.g. “I think I look bad in photographs”), feelings (“I hate the way I look”), as well as
perceptions (“I am too fat”). In body image research, a person’s body image is often
described in terms of the level of body-esteem (referring to self-esteem in relation to
body and appearance) or body dissatisfaction (referring to negative feelings and
thoughts about one’s body and appearance) which a person may be experiencing.
Nutrition, Health, and Hygiene
Nutrition and dietary habits during adolescence
Adolescence is a period of rapid physical growth, with a corresponding
increase in nutritional requirements to support the increase in body mass and to
build up stores of nutrients. The daily intake of nutritional requirements increases
according to the following factors:
Age: at the beginning of puberty, with the increase of height and at the last
stage of adolescence;
Gender: adolescent girls require 10% more nutrients, iron and iodine in
particular than boys;
Pregnancy: during the second half in particular, as well as during the first six
months of breastfeeding, it is advised that the first pregnancy after marriage be
postponed at least until the girl is over 18 years old because it might not be possible
to meet added nutritional requirements, especially among middle income and poor
families; and
Activities and sports: heavy physical sports in particular such as swimming,
running, and ball games
Improving the nutrition of adolescents
Adolescent nutrition can be improved through several measures including:
• recognition of the increased nutritional requirements of adolescents;
• nutritional education for the promotion of healthy dietary habits stated below;
• adequate diet at specific times;
• control of excessive indulgence in food, especially those foods high in sugar and
fat;
• minimizing the intake of sweets and snacks between main meals, especially junk
food snacks;
• regular physical exercise to burn excess calories and to strengthen muscles;
• regular intake of breakfast;
• use of sugar replacement if prone to obesity; and
• ensuring that poultry and poultry products, including meat are well-cooked, and
clean.
Major Health Concerns of Adolescents
Obesity: Obesity is a grave nutritional problem for adolescents. It simply means that
the energy intake exceeds the amount of energy consumed, and the residual
difference accumulates in the body to cause fat. Over consumption of food is the
main reason for obesity, specifically foods rich in sugar, starch and fat, like nuts,
sweets, chocolate and soft drinks. Snacks and junk foods eaten with or in between
meals, and popcorn, pizza and nuts consumed while watching television, also
causes obesity. The energy consumed in sports, walking, manual work or physical
exercise is usually less than the calorie intake.
Anemia: Anemia is the most prevalent nutritional deficiency in the world, affecting no
less than two billion people. Primarily caused by iron deficiency, its acute symptoms
manifest particularly among adolescent girls. During menarche, teenage girls need
10% more iron than boys of the same age because of blood loss in menstruation.
Poor families often fail to provide the extra iron intake needed for these adolescent
girls who also have a heavy workload at home. In addition, there is the possibility of
sex discrimination in interfamilial food distribution in some families with girls having a
smaller share than boys.
Iodine deficiency: Iodine is a basic life element for humans. Iodine deficiency
leads to goiter, abortion and mental retardation. Deficiency means a severe lack of
nutrition needed that might have a pathological effect. The need for iodine increases
during adolescence.
Depression: The term “depression” is often used in daily conversation to refer to
bouts of sadness, moodiness or disappointment that last for a few days. However,
this is not depression, which is a specific clinically recognized condition diagnosed
by psychologists or psychiatrists.
Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs): The lifestyles adopted by adolescents and
youth will largely decide their risks of having sexually transmitted disease and HIV
infection. It must be understood that these age groups are vulnerable to such
infections. For example, ages from 20 to 24 usually have the highest incidence of
HIV infection followed by those from 15 to 19 years of age. Examples for STDs:
Syphilis (spirochete), Hepatitis B (virus), Herpes (virus), HIV (virus), AIDS (disease),
Trichomoniasis vaginitis (flagellar), Genital warts (virus) and Chlamydia infection
(intracellular organisms).
Adolescence is a time to build on these basics
Good hygiene habits in childhood are a great foundation for good hygiene in the
teenage years. And if you’ve got open, honest communication with your child, it’ll
make it easier to talk about the personal hygiene issues that come up in
adolescence.
Why good personal hygiene matters?
Keeping your body clean is an important part of staying healthy. The simple act of
washing hands before eating and after using the toilet is a proven and effective tool
in fighting germs to avoid sickness. Being clean and well-presented is also an
important part of gaining confidence for teenagers.
Helping adolescent child with the basics of personal hygiene:
Body odor: When children reach puberty, a sweat gland in their armpit and genital
area develops. Regular changing of underwear and other clothes worn next to the
skin is especially important. These clothes collect all sorts of stuff that bacteria love
to eat, including dead skin cells, sweat and body fluids. That’s why they get smelly.
The onset of puberty is also a good time for your child to start using anti-perspirant
deodorant. You can encourage your child to do this by letting her choose her own.
Smelly feet: Smelly feet and shoes can also be a problem, whether you are sporty
or not. One can avoid this by giving your feet extra attention while taking a shower,
and making sure they are completely dry before putting your socks and shoes on. It
is a good idea to alternate your shoes and to wear cotton socks instead of those
made of synthetic fibers.
Dental hygiene: Brushing teeth twice a day, flossing and going to the dentist
regularly are vital to avoid bad breath, gum problems and tooth decay.
Girls: Although all teenagers have the same basic hygiene issues, girls will be
needing help to manage their monthly periods. Adolescent girls should be told to
change their pads more often as well as to dispose these used pads hygienically.
Teenagers do need extra time in the bathroom. While teenagers are learning to
shave or to handle their periods, these hygiene activities might take a bit longer.
Boys: Boys will need advice about shaving (how to do it and when to start), looking
after their genitals, and about bodily fluids.
Special Needs: Young people with special needs are likely be needing extra support
with their personal hygiene. When you are thinking about how to discuss hygiene to
a child with special needs, his/her learning ability and style might be a factor.
You may consider breaking the hygiene tasks (such as showering, shaving, using
deodorant and cleaning teeth) into small steps. This way, they might be easier for
adolescent to learn.
Start early - before puberty: If you keep reinforcing messages about personal
hygiene, most adolescent will get there in the end.
