Your kid’s brain, age by age (3 to 17)

Six stages, six characters. Ranges overlap and every kid has their own pace.

• What’s normal for a 4 or 5 year old? Brain and behavior at ages 3 to 6Why your 4 or 5 year old asks “why” all day, melts down over small things and fights bedtime, with sleep hours and what to try at home.
• 7 year old behavior: what’s normal at ages 6 to 8School, rules and friends: what’s normal for a 7 year old, why after-school meltdowns happen, what adrenarche is and how much sleep helps.
• 9 year old behavior: what’s normal at ages 8 to 10Fairness fights, hobbies, friends and first puberty signs: what’s normal for a 9 year old and how to help their brain grow skills and confidence.
• Tween brain development: what’s normal for an 11 year old?Puberty starts, friends matter more and moods get bigger. What’s normal for tweens aged 10 to 12 and how to stay close without hovering.
• 13 year old brain: what’s normal at ages 12 to 14?Why early teens grow fast, fall asleep late, chase rewards and go quiet at home, plus how much sleep they need and what helps you stay close.
• Teenage brain development: what’s normal for a 15 or 16 year old?Why teens care so much about friends, take risks and stay up late, and what helps: deals instead of orders, real wins and sleep before screens.

Educational content only, not medical advice. New pages are added as we write them. All guides · Meet the crew