As a parent, you know that all too soon your kids will grow up, and the transition from childhood to adolescence can be overwhelming. One of the most challenging aspects of this transition is talking to your preteen about puberty. This can be a daunting task, but it’s important to approach the conversation with an open mind and a good understanding of what your child needs to know. Let’s explore how you can prepare yourself and your preteen for this important milestone in their life.
First, it’s important to remember why you are having this conversation in the first place—to help your preteen understand and make sense of all the changes they are going through. Adolescence is a time of physical, emotional, and mental growth and development; preparing them for it as best you can will help them navigate it more easily. That means providing them with accurate information about what’s happening in their body so they can take control of their own health decisions.
It’s also important to provide your preteen with resources on puberty beyond just talking about it. There are great books out there specifically written for adolescents that cover topics like anatomy, hormones, body image issues, gender identity, safe sex practices, and more. These books are great starting points for conversations between parents and preteens because they provide visual aids that make things clearer than words alone could ever do. You could also consider finding online resources that cater specifically to adolescents—just make sure whatever resource you choose is age-appropriate!
In addition to providing factual information about bodily changes during puberty, it’s equally important to talk openly and honestly with your preteen about the emotional side of growing up—things like self-esteem, relationships with friends and family members, bullying/cyberbullying, social media use/abuse, etc. It may feel uncomfortable at first but having these conversations now will pay off greatly as they grow older and face more complex challenges in life.
Talking with your preteen about puberty is an essential part of preparing them for adulthood—it helps them understand their changing bodies while also giving them the tools they need to make healthy decisions throughout adolescence. By providing factual information from reliable sources alongside open conversations about emotions and relationships during this time in their lives (and beyond), you can help set them up for success as they continue on their journey through adulthood!