Like many parents, I often turn to books as a source of inspiration for parenting and other life challenges. So to help you out, we have put together a list of the ten best puberty books covering everything from sex education to body image to allow you and your preteen to navigate the murky waters of the teen years. Consider your personal beliefs and how much you are comfortable sharing with your daughter. For example, some families are open and frank about sexuality, menstruation, masturbation, etc., while others may wish to dish information in small segments. It’s Perfectly Normal: Changing Bodies, Growing Up, Sex, Gender, and Sexual Health by Robie H. Harris Bea's story takes students to the Loire Valley of France where they will visit a beehive, a country market, and the famous Chateau of Villandry. Illustrator Andra Chase has created delicately beautiful scenes of Bea’s world inside and outside her hive. Elkan wants her messages to be relevant to girls in whatever diverse family they find themselves. She also wants to empower them when it comes to owning their experiences, especially the physical side of growing up.

One early spring day, an inexperienced honeybee named Beatrice hears about the most beautiful garden in the world, and she decides to go on an expedition, even if it means breaking a rule or two. When a change in the weather turns her outing into a near-disaster, Bea realizes that rules are for her own good. Don't share razors . Sharing a razor can spread bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus and cause skin infections. Introduce factual information about aviation, about the canine species, and about the sights and history of New York City Coarser hair will begin to grow in the genital area, under the arms, and on the legs. In some girls (about 15%), pubic hair may be the first sign of puberty―showing up before breast budding starts. Here in the UK, it’s a bit more hush hush and it seems like it’s mainly up to us parents to find resources for our children to read about growing up and puberty. Of course, these days you can also finds things on the internet, but I think it’s best if children read an actual book written by a professional rather than a mix of things online.A story about leadership, confidence, initiative and cooperation. Particularly useful for studies in social skills and character education. [Isabella] will be appreciated by general viewers as well." — School Library Journal Sophie Elkan, author of ‘The Girls Guide to Growing Up Great’ (Photo: Sophie Elkan/Bloomsbury) Changes for the better There is some debate on this. The short answer to this question: maybe. It's clear that the starting age for puberty has decreased over the last 150 years, likely related to improved nutrition. Trends in puberty over the last 40 years are less clear. Some studies suggest that puberty is starting earlier in the United States and Europe. Elkan, who has an 11-year-old daughter, agrees with me that at heart girlhood is about the things it’s always been about – with the added ingredient of social media and life online putting some issues, especially around friendships and body image, into particularly sharp focus.

growth spurt at a younger age than boys do. The fastest rate of height growth usually occurs in girls between when breast buds start to develop and about 6 months before they get their period. Once a girl has had her first period, her growth has already started to slow down. Most girls grow another 1-2 inches after getting their period, but increased height beyond that is less common. Wider Hips

While some girls will have bright red blood with their first period, other girls may only have spotting with red-brown discharge―both are normal! While some people will have periods once a month, periods may be irregular in the first few years as the body adapts to rapid physiological changes. Also, normal cycles of periods can be as short as 21 days or as long as 35… so even people with regular cycles might not have a period every single month! Sex is mentioned in the book but only as a very small and biological section. I know this will be something that some parents would like to know before buying a book on this topic. Puberty education for students with special needs. Intended for older students with special needs, this DVD readily stands alone, but also follows on developmentally from the Boy's Guide to Growing Up, giving parents and educators continued momentum in the vital task of educating adolescents with special needs. The DVD is organized in chapter format, allowing for lesson breaks and instructional focus. The chapters are as follows: What’s more, many of the issues around body image, online bullying and so on are as relevant to adolescent boys as adolescent girls. This begs the question: why is a book like this needed now – what does it have to say that’s new and different from existing titles on the bookshelves?

It's much better for your daughter to be informed about her body early on in the process of puberty than to be surprised or even scared as these changes happen. It can also be helpful to have sanitary napkins available ahead of time and explain how to use them before her first period arrives. The fact is, there are always going to be contemporary challenges. I’m sure my mother looked at me growing up in the 1980s and thought it was very different from her own day which was post the war,” she says. “But it’s very easy to look at social media and the pressures on girls today and to think things are more different than they are. I suspect it’s always been a time of pressure and challenges, at every point in history.” Public or Private? describes private and public places, appropriate behaviors and societal expectations.Where your daughter is concerned, you have more of this than she does. If you’re a mother, you have been a girl; you know more about the passage of time, and the changes life brings. Try to give your daughter that sense of perspective in a helpful way; and remind her that you, too, were a teenager once. As a father, don’t for a second assume that the important things around raising a daughter through puberty can be delegated to her mum. Your attitude towards the physical changes are vital: periods, for example, aren’t something to be embarrassed or shy about. Never, ever treat them as either ‘secret’ or, even worse, ‘shameful’: they’re a normal, healthy part of everyday life. If you are the parent of a tween or teen girl, you are probably wondering, what’s the best way to discuss all the ins and outs of puberty with my daughter? If your daughter is already experiencing changes and asking questions, it is best to answer them as honestly as possible at their level. Electric razors . Some electric razors are designed specifically for girls. These may be less likely to cut the skin, although they can still cause irritation.

Growing up is hard to do. There’s never been an easy time in history to go through puberty, and generations of parents have struggled with the best way to talk about body changes with their children. Puberty often begins earlier than parents think―especially in girls.* You can help your daughter navigate this time by learning about these changes and starting conversations about them early. Overall, more information and research is needed on this topic so we can fully understand these patterns and the possible reasons behind them. My daughter is worried about gaining weight during puberty. Is weight gain part of normal puberty? Wet the skin & use lotion or gel. Shaving dry skin can scratch and irritate it. It may be easiest to shave in the shower or bathtub when the skin is already wet. Shaving gel, lotion, or cream acts as a buffer on the skin and can help avoid cuts. Information can be shared in smaller conversations, opening the door for ongoing communication so that your daughter can ask questions at her own pace. This open door will help with conversations about other important topics down the road such as healthy relationships, sex, sexuality, consent, and safety (such as how to prevent sexually transmitted infectionand pregnancy, and

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Around the time they reach middle school, many girls begin to show interest in shaving their legs and armpits. This is a personal choice; there is no medical reason to shave armpit or leg hair. Before giving them a razor, show them how to use it properly and avoid skin irritation and cuts, which can become infected. Some tips: