Puberty
Puberty can be an awkward topic for most parents. What should be remembered is that dealing with the subject in a calm and controlled manner can make this much easier for both you and your child.
Puberty is the time and process where a child starts going through a number of physical and emotional changes. It usually starts in girls between the ages of 8 and 13 and in boys between the ages of 10 and 15. Parents should remember that different children reach puberty at different stages so they should prepare themselves and their children for when it finally happens since it could come as quite a shock.
When a child reaches puberty, their pituitary glands start secreting special hormones. These hormones have different effects depending on whether the child is a boy or a girl. In boys, these hormones travel to the testes, the two ball-like glands in the scrotum (the sac hanging under the penis), to start making testosterone. This is the "male hormone". It causes boys to produce sperm and makes them grow hair on their faces as they get older. It also causes their voices to become deeper,
In girls, the hormones travel to the ovaries, which contain the eggs. The ovaries then start making oestrogen, the "female hormone" that causes girls to develop breasts and start their periods. Both boys and girls start growing hair on their underarms and around their pubic areas. Another change that boys and girls go through is growth spurts. This sees their bodies growing very quickly over two or three years. Growth spurts usually start earlier in girls and end when they're around', while they start later in boys but end when they're 21.
As they get older, boys and girls experience even more changes. This usually takes place within their teen years. Boys start to build more muscle while their penises grow longer and wider. Their voices also start to crack and eventually become deeper. Girls will notice that their bodies start becoming curvier while their hips become wider. They also start gaining weight but parents should remember that this is natural and that they should not try any kind of special diets to stop it. Girls usually get their first periods roughly two years after their breasts first start to develop.
One of the most common changes in puberty is acne. This is when pimples start appearing because of all the hormones at work inside the body. Pimples can appear on the face, chest and back. Acne slowly disappears as people get older. If your child has severe acne that is very visible, you may consider consulting a doctor or dermatologist to treat and correct it. This will help your child avoid being teased about it.
Body odour (B.O) also first appears during puberty. The sweat glands under the skin first become active during puberty, causing people to sweat. The sweat, along with the bacteria found on the skin, is what causes body odour. Antiperspirants and regular showers are the best ways to prevent body odour.
Puberty also has an effect on emotions. Teenagers will feel more conscious about their bodies and may be more emotional as a result. The change in their hormone levels may also make them more moody. They may argue with their families and lose their tempers more often. Try to remember what it was like going through puberty when you were your child's age, and try to be more patient.
Since puberty comes with so many changes, most of them quite surprising, parents should sit their children down and discuss everything to do with puberty. This will prepare both children and parents for all the big changes that will follow.
Links:
