| Puberty is the time when a child’s body begins
to change and develops the ability to reproduce. For
girls, this is highlighted by her first menstrual
period (articles on discussing you daughter's
first period). It is a natural, normal, process
that occurs in all human beings. At no other time,
except during infancy, does the human body change
so dramatically as it does during puberty. This is
a period when parents begin noticing their child’s
physical growth, changes in body shape, and developing
emotional independence.
Puberty can be nerve-racking for parents as well as
for youngsters. Most parents are aware of the turmoil
adolescence may bring, and many remember their own
adolescent years with mixed feelings. Parents may
bring into this phase of their children’s lives their
own perspectives of how it was when they were adolescents.
For them, there may be unresolved issues, dating back
to their own pre-teen years, that are stirred up as
they see their child struggle with similar problems
to theirs. A child’s pubescence, then, may provide
an opportunity for parents finally to deal with old
business. It can be a time of growth, not only for
the pre-teen, but also for the parent.
Parents who have enjoyed a really pleasant journey
with their child through the youngster’s early years
may be saddened and chagrined as their newly-adolescent
child changes and begins an emotional separation from
them. For others, the onset of puberty is a happy
occasion because some parents find they enjoy relating
to their child on a more adult level. Still, for others,
the concerns about potential risky behavior, possible
decreasing school performance, and societal pressures
are heightened.
As boys and girls go through puberty, some of the
changes they experience are similar, and some are
different. Although the sequence of events that lead
up to puberty are well known, the age at which puberty
begins and ends varies greatly from one child to the
next. Each youngster will proceed at his or her own
pace and should be reassured that his/her pace is
just right.
For most girls, puberty begins around age nine or
ten, although it may start anytime from ages eight
to fifteen years. What many parents fail to realize
is that there are many changes that occur before their
girl's first
period. The entire process of pubescent growth
can take anywhere from one-and-a-half years to as
long as five to six years to complete. Though the
timing of the changes that occur during puberty varies
from child to child, the sequence of events is well
known. However, the beginnings and the endings for
the different transformations do overlap with one
another.
The sequence of events occurs in the following
order:
• Breast buds
• Growth spurt
• Pubic hair
• First menstruation (menarche)
• Underarm hair
• Growth of uterus and vagina completed
Other changes, such as the development of acne
and body odor, also may be noted and can occur at
different times throughout puberty.
Parent can help their pre-teens by being attentive
to these changes and reassuring their pre-teen of
how normal it all is! By this time too, pre-teens
should have a basic knowledge of the basic facts of
conception and birth, in order the words, they should
know about the birds and the bees, “the talk”. Incorporating
this information into the progression of puberty is
a way to validate the normal changes and why they
will be happening. Of course, this is the time to
once again reinforce your family’s values and beliefs. |
