Hillsborough County Extension
Adolescents and Teens

• Adolescent Development
• The Parent-Teen Relationship
• Issues during Adolescence (alcohol, drugs, safety)
• Additional Publications

Welcome to the “Adolescent Years!” This is a remarkable time, generally between the ages of nine and sixteen, when your son or daughter is no longer a child, yet far from an adult.

Many families find that these years are not the “terrible teens” they’ve read about. In fact, the adolescent and teens years can be quite enjoyable. There’s nothing quite as fulfilling as watching your child mature into a capable, self-reliant human being. Does this happen overnight? Of course not. It’s a long, slow process where a child has to question authority, make decisions of their own, and learn from mistakes in order to become independent. It’s about earning freedom by learning responsibilities.

If you have built a solid, healthy relationship with your child, you will probably find the adolescent years to be pleasant and enjoyable for both you and your teen. However, it’s perfectly normal for some families to experience turmoil.

When you took on this job as a parent many years ago, your responsibility was to work yourself out of a job! The teen years are where you start to let go a little bit more each day so that your child can stretch and grow into the adult he or she was intended to be.

The publications above are to help parents learn about the normal development of adolescents and improve the parent/child relationship.

For information on family life programs,
contact Diana Converse at (813) 744-5519 x 140 or