Puberty Issues

Puberty is the time of life when people develop physically and sexually so that they can have children. It is the time when male and female sex characteristics appear and when changes in the sexual organs occur.

Puberty is the entire process of changes affecting the body and its hormones that accompany sexual maturation. In general, girls usually start puberty between the ages of 8 and 13. And boys usually start puberty between the ages of 9 and 14. But the exact age at which puberty starts varies widely among children.

Helping your child or teen handle puberty issues

Having an adolescent often brings up parents' uncomfortable memories of going through puberty themselves. Fortunately, education and support for adolescents during this period of life are becoming increasingly common. But adolescents still need parental guidance about what to expect and assurance that everyone goes through similar changes during puberty.

Here are some ways you can help your child.

• Talk to your child before physical changes start to happen. Instead of overloading your child in one sitting, talk to your child over a period of a year or two about changes that are upcoming. Offer your child books or find websites about puberty that are geared toward teens, and set a time to talk about what your child learned.
• Share some of your own teen experiences. Your child will know that Mom or Dad went through this time too.
• Talk about body odor. Young adolescents may not be aware of developing body odor and the need for deodorants and more frequent bathing.
• Teach your child how to care for their skin. Your child may develop pimples, whiteheads and blackheads, or acne.
• Teach your child about the changes that occur with puberty, such as the following.
  • During female puberty:
    • Hips become more rounded.
    • Nipples grow first and then the breasts under them.
    • Menstrual periods start a few years after other changes begin. At first, periods may not be regular.
    • Fine pubic and underarm hair starts to grow, and then the hair becomes coarser.
  • During male puberty:
    • Penises and testicles grow larger.
    • Adolescents may have wet dreams.
    • Sometimes there's temporary breast growth.
    • Fine pubic and underarm hair starts to grow, and then the hair becomes coarser.
• Show compassion. Let your child know that you are there to help and will not tease or ridicule.