Womanthismonth.com 82 April 2024 When raising your child, you might wonder which ‘coming of age’ questions you need to be prepared for. Ouiam El Hassani walks us through your daughter’s biggest questions about puberty and periods. Puberty comes with a lot of changes for kids and a lot of questions. From what to expect from a first period to navigating mood swings, your tween may be looking for answers. Read on to learn how to answer your daughter’s most common questions about periods and puberty. The average age for a girl to begin menstruation is 12, with some girls starting as early as 8 or 9 years old. However, no one has a crystal ball, but this should give your daughter a general idea of when to expect her first period. Let your child know that her period will start a few years after puberty begins. Explain that menstruation is the body’s way of gearing up to one day have a baby, when or if she chooses to. As much as you’re comfortable, you can explain the process of ovulation and how an egg is released every month from a woman’s ovaries. When the woman doesn’t become pregnant, the body sheds the uterine lining, which results in having a period. Explain that periods happen approximately every month, and the bleeding lasts for about three to five days, but everyone is different. Answering Your Daughter’s Biggest Questions Begin by explaining to your child that puberty is the period of time where your body goes through a series of changes as they transition from being a child to an adult. During puberty, a surge of hormones prompts a girl’s body to change. Her shape might become curvier as her hips widen. She might gain weight or have a growth spurt. Her breasts will start to grow. Be open about what your child should expect, including increased body hair, oily skin, growth spurts and mood swings. When will I get my period? What happens during puberty? LIFESTYLE | parenting
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