Physical Characteristics

• Age: 12 years old
• Height: Average for age
• Weight: Average for age
• Eye Color: Varies depending on individual
• Hair Color: Varies depending on individual
• Skin Color: Varies depending on individual

Cognitive Development

• Intellectual skills: Abstract thinking, problem-solving, and critical reasoning skills are developing rapidly.
• Academic abilities: Reading, writing, and math skills are improving significantly.
• Language skills: Vocabulary and language comprehension continue to expand.

Social and Emotional Development

• Peers: Friendships become more important and influence behavior.
• Self-concept: Developing a sense of identity and self-worth.
• Moral development: Understanding of right and wrong, and the consequences of actions.
• Emotional regulation: Improves but still experiences strong emotions and may struggle with self-control at times.

Physical Development

• Growth spurts: Rapid growth and changes in body shape.
• Puberty: May begin to experience early signs of physical changes, such as body hair and acne.
• Coordination: Gross and fine motor skills continue to improve.
• Health: Generally healthy, but may experience minor illnesses and injuries.

Behavioral Characteristics

• Increased independence: Seeks more autonomy and responsibility.
• Curiosity and exploration: Eager to learn and discover new things.
• Risk-taking: May engage in risky behaviors as they test limits and experiment with new possibilities.
• Assertiveness: Beginning to express their opinions and needs more clearly.

Other Considerations

• Gender differences: Some developmental differences may emerge between boys and girls, such as in physical growth and emotional expression.
• Individual variability: Children develop at different rates, so there can be significant variation in their abilities and characteristics at any given age.