Since most new parents generally learn their child has dwarfism in the first two years of life, they have time to teach them about their condition. Despite these efforts, children may not understand they have dwarfism until adolescence. To avoid a child being caught off guard, their environment (primarily their parents) needs to help them develop self-confidence and independence.

This is only possible if parents do not overprotect their child. A child has to learn with their parents to recognize their own capacities and live with their shortcomings. Teenagers also need enriching and positive experiences. They need to follow their passions and excel at something so they can define themselves and be comfortable in their own skin. This will help adolescent little people become more independent, especially if their parents avoid helping them all the time conserve energy and save time. They are capable and need to know it!

With regards to making friends, the best ways are to be friendly, relatively extroverted, and to have a good sense of humor. Making the first move is a good way to start and will help with meeting other teenagers in the future. If a young person needs a role model of an adult little person who is comfortable in their own skin, they can come to AQPPT meetings to meet people of all ages a similar situation. Like all young adults, little people start thinking seriously about finding a partner during their teenage years. This is a whole challenge in itself. Teenage little people will have to first and foremost learn how to love their bodies - something not always accepted by others or themselves.

Two types of extreme behavior may present themselves: aggressive flirting in young women and a strong manly attitude in young men, or, the opposite: a withdrawal or escape into themselves. Prejudices exist, and some little people will be more inclined to devalue their image, while others will fully accept themselves. It is often a question of time before they meet the right person, whether they will be of small stature or regular height.