Puberty Education for Your Young Teen

15 Comments
By the Dot Girl™ Moms

In the Judy Blume book Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret, the main character
experiences puberty while also sorting out her religious heritage. Many mothers have
read this book with their daughters to help initiate conversations around the bodily
changes that occur during puberty. Studies show that children want to hear this
information from their parents, even though it might not always appear that they are
listening.

What are other ways can you help educate your daughter about these transitional steps to
womanhood? With the wealth of information on the internet, it would seem easy to
gather a few good websites and just pass the information to your daughter. It is best
though if she has you there to help interpret and understand the information.

To make it more personable, share your own memories and experiences from this time in
your life. Did you have any embarrassing moments? Where were you when you started
your first period? When did you buy your first bra? Sharing your stories will help your
daughter realize that she is not alone in this experience. Asking other female members of
your family to share their stories will provide a sense of family togetherness and will give
your daughter an idea of "how times have changed".

This is an awkward time for girls. She may be experiencing a growth spurt and
outgrowing all her clothes, or having to deal with pimples for the very first time. Offer
her positive reinforcement and assurance that this is a normal step in her growing up
years and that she is always beautiful to you. Gathering a group of friends together for a
special shopping day or a trip to the drugstore to explore skin care items would be a way
to remind your daughter that all her friends are experiencing the same changes.

Remember to keep the lines of communication open and start early. Being open and
honest with your daughter when she is in her early years will lay the foundation for the
puberty years when she will have lots of questions and concerns. Try not to have one
big talk, instead slip in nuggets of information into normal everyday conversation. And
don’t wait for your daughter to initiate the conversation, she may be too embarrassed!

About the Dot Girl™ Moms

Two sisters, Terri and Kathy, founded Dot Girl™ First Period Products. Who better than two women who are also daughters and mothers to honestly address an uncomfortable topic?

Their motivation to create The Dot Girl's First Period Kit™ grew from their own awkward teenage experiences. Despite the fact that their mother was a wonderful nurturer to four daughters, she was never comfortable talking to them about their bodies. They found that this is more often the rule than the exception for both moms and dads. And the reality today is that parents often find themselves in the awkward position of having avoided the subject at all costs, to the detriment of their daughters.

Terri and Kathy's goal is to provide parents with the tools they need to explain the basics of menstruation to their daughters. And for the girls, they hope to lessen their anxiety about their first period and instead turn it into a positive experience. For more information, please visit www.dotgirlproducts.com.

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What others are saying.

tess, 7/18/2009 1:53:28 PM
my 10 year old is starting to become very mood. i started my peridod when i was around 12. i was told that she might started a year younger then i was. is this ture? could this be the reson or could she be trying to find her place among her two younger sisters

flor, 7/18/2009 10:36:41 PM
I have a 11 years old girl,she likes to talk about the changes in her body,I started talk about puberty since she was 9,because I had my period when I was 11 I thouht she could have her period in any moment, I think we are ready!!!!.
she is happy because she is the only girl among her 3 brothers(I feel so lucky!!!)

ccubba, 7/20/2009 4:58:54 AM
My daughter started at 8 yrs.old. All the preservatives added to food so to have a longer shelf life........ and steroids to have catlle grow and mature faster for more $ $ $ in their pockets. I'm a 5th gr. teacher who over the years have noticed the 5th & 6th grade students, both boys and girls... mature both physically and mentally sooner!

Rhonda, 7/20/2009 9:53:02 PM
I agree with the steroids/growth hormones philosophy. What are they doing to our children? I was 13 when I started, my mom the same age. They tell you to go by that to estimate when your daughter will start...well my daughter is 9.

Anabell, 7/22/2009 1:43:33 PM
Can someone tell me what is the right age to be talking about sex with my daughter, she is 8 yrs old going to 9 on dicember. Thanks

Lori, 7/22/2009 4:32:27 PM
Thank you for helping to make this a positive experience for young girls. As a mom, of a now young woman, I know I struggled with this topic. I also work in Special Ed and this is an area that the parents of my students also struggle and are almost fearful of discussing. Thanks again for a great article and resources.

senorita s, 7/27/2009 12:22:30 AM
please talk to your daughters so that they have some facts about their period instead of the nonsense that friends tell them

jayla, 8/3/2009 9:55:48 PM
i need help

Ann, 8/17/2009 11:10:03 AM
My daughter is 9 1/2 and she got her period this weekend. I was that age, too, but I was hoping and praying that she would take after my husband's side of the family. She is still just a little girl, so I am at a loss as to how much to try to explain. Help!

Jennifer, 8/29/2009 9:47:04 AM
My duaghter Stephanie is 9 and she is so eager to get her period; i dont know why she wants it so bad at her age the last thing i wanted was a period, she probably is so eager to grow up because she has 3 older sisters that all have gone through the womenly change. every day she asks me mom what age did alissa (her eldest sister) get her period, what age did alexis (her sister ) get it and what age did amanda (also sister) get it, i dont understand how to tell her to wait ;with out hurting her feelings. any help is well needed. But i dont deny any of her questions i always sit with her and i disscuss it, any other mom would do the same..

Shari, 9/4/2009 9:17:54 AM
My daughter is 9 she will be 10 in Nov.
We have already talked about sex, and now are talking about her getting her period. She is prepared for when it happens I dont remember when I started so that is no help for us. but we are ready, and we talk open about all things I hope it stays that way.

Megan, 9/7/2009 1:16:34 PM
Hi jennifer, why not try to get her to focus on other aspects instead like taking her shopping for some bras and buying her a razor to she can shave her legs like her sisters and help her to choose some sanitary products for when she starts, that might help her feel grown up and may stop her from asking you all the time.

jodie, 9/7/2009 5:34:28 PM
jennifer, I guess stephanie wants to be like her sisters, but point out to her that there are other things for her to look forward to when she reaches puberty like breasts developing and pubic hair that also shows she is becoming a woman.

BilleJean, 9/16/2009 2:06:49 PM
My period is extra light but the cramps are so #$%#^$@ annoying

Blah!

Susanna, 9/25/2009 1:20:56 AM
Yes. Kids are definitely maturing earlier nowdays. The daughter of a friend of mine has already began to have her periods and has grown both pubic and underarm hair. She still has not shown signs of breast growth but now the surprising part; SHE IS ONLY EIGHR YEARS OLD! Susanna

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