Teens and Pre-teens is a complicated age, both boys as well as girls, go through hormonal changes in their bodies and adolescence leaves them confused. We witness mood swings, irrational behavior and rebellion in kids at this age. I have faced it too and at times wondered what happened to my otherwise calm kid.
Puberty starts at different times and lasts for different periods of time for everyone. It can start as early as 8 years of age to as late as 13 years of age.
Girls usually enter puberty about 2 years earlier than boys.
Below is a general timeline for physical changes that occur during puberty (for girls):
| Puberty Event | Age at which it happens | |
| Growth of breasts | 8-13 | |
| Growth of pubic hair | 8-14 | |
| Body Growth | 9 1/2-14 1/2 | |
| First Period | 10-16 1/2 | |
| Underarm Hair | 2 years after pubic hair shows up | |
| Acne | Around the same time as underarm hair |
This period is sometimes very difficult for girls as some of their peers may have entered and completed puberty before they have even started. They find it difficult to discuss with their parents or their peers. Some sections of society also create a great hue and cry about a girl child reaching puberty. How we need to approach kids is that puberty is a normal scientific process that occurs in every child’s body and that they should embrace it and not be embarrassed about it.
Boys – the pubertal sequence entails:
- Enlargement of testes
- Changes in texture and color of scrotum
- Increased penis size
- Appearance of pubic hair
- First ejaculation
- Peak of growth spurt, followed by more growth
- Growth of facial hair
- Increased size of larynx and vocal chords cause voice to deepen
- Completion of penis growth
- Attainment of adult height
- Completion of pubic hair growth
| Puberty Event | Age at which it happens | |
| Growth of testicles & scrotal sac | 10-13 1/2 | |
| Growth of pubic hair | 10-15 | |
| Body Growth | 10 1/2 -16 1/2 | |
| Growth of penis | 11-14 1/2 | |
| Change in voice | About the same time as penis growth | |
| Facial & Underarm Hair | About 2 years after pubic hair appears | |
| Acne | About the same time as underarm hair appears |
So both genders undergo many changes and it can be mind boggling.
Shouldn’t you as a parent be the one to educate your child about his/her body rather than he /she picking up half-baked information from here and there? How shall your child take you into confidence if you don’t take him/her into confidence and talk about their bodies and sex?
Another point to wonder is that one in two children in India is sexually abused. In most of the cases, children take days and even months to communicate to their parents. Those who communicate, go through feelings of guilt and shame. Some take years to come out of it; some are unable to even after years.
An aware and empowered child will not be ashamed to share with his/ her parents. He or she will also stop the sexual advances if encountered in a stronger way. Remember the creeps lurk after kids who look weak and lonely.
For reasons such as above we have tied up with Dr Shruti Jaiswal ( Parent Coach from Parwarish Institute of Parenting) to conduct a special coaching workshop for children on ‘Body Science’.
- This workshop will help children to understand the physical and emotional changes happening to their growing bodies.
- Empower them to understand and protect themselves against Child Sexual Abuse.
- Educate children to understand about Sex and sexuality. (This bit is for age 11 and above)
‘Body Science’ workshop will take place on 5th Dec, 2015
8 -13 years of age and above (11 am – 12.30 pm) Rs 900/child
Venue: Flat no 2, Ground floor, Building no 11A, Takshila, Andheri east. Mumbai-93.
This is our endeavor to promote awareness and bring parents and kids on the same platform.
We hope maximum participation from you and would love to hear your feedback once your kids have completed the workshop.
To enroll for the workshop click on the link or head to our Facebook Page.
Signing off for now,
Yours Truly,
