Definitions
- Describing a child who is between the ages of 9 and 12 years old. - Referring to the period of development before adolescence. - Talking about the stage of life when a child is no longer a young child but not yet a teenager.
- Describing a child who has not yet started puberty. - Referring to the period of development before the onset of puberty. - Talking about the stage of life when a child's body has not yet begun to change in preparation for sexual maturity.
List of Similarities
- 1Both words describe a stage of development before adolescence.
- 2Both words refer to a period of life before significant physical changes occur.
- 3Both words are used to describe children who are not yet teenagers.
What is the difference?
- 1Age range: Preadolescent refers to children between the ages of 9 and 12, while prepubescent can refer to children of any age who have not yet started puberty.
- 2Physical changes: Preadolescent children may begin to experience some physical changes, such as growth spurts, while prepubescent children have not yet begun to develop secondary sexual characteristics.
- 3Emotional changes: Preadolescent children may experience more emotional ups and downs as they navigate the transition from childhood to adolescence, while prepubescent children are still in a relatively stable emotional state.
- 4Cognitive changes: Preadolescent children may begin to think more abstractly and critically, while prepubescent children are still primarily focused on concrete thinking and learning.
- 5Connotation: Preadolescent has a more neutral connotation, while prepubescent can sometimes carry negative or uncomfortable associations due to its connection to sexual development.
Remember this!
Preadolescent and prepubescent both refer to stages of development before adolescence, but there are some key differences between the two terms. Preadolescent describes children between the ages of 9 and 12 who are beginning to experience some physical, emotional, and cognitive changes associated with the transition to adolescence. Prepubescent, on the other hand, refers to children who have not yet begun to develop secondary sexual characteristics and are still in a relatively stable emotional and cognitive state.
