Have you ever wondered if your child has actually started going through puberty?
What are the signs? How will you know? The average age for girls is 11 and for boys 12, but it can begin at different ages, usually anywhere between 8-14. Puberty usually starts a year earlier for girls. For example I started puberty many moons ago, when I was nine. How old were you?
But how do you know that it’s happening or about to happen? Did you know that puberty usually happens in an order? James Tanner an English paediatrician developed The Tanner Scale which is still widely used today so check it out!
What you will probably first notice are emotional changes -that your child is extra moody but let’s face it you would be too if you had a sudden burst of hormones! They will also start to smell (stronger body odour) and as we know, they don’t necessarily notice this themselves. The other physical, emotional and social changes will not happen all at once, thank goodness!
For most boys: You will notice puberty when they have a rapid growth spurt. Physically their feet and hands grow first, then their arms, legs and body so that might make them feel awkward and it might seem like they are always hungry, because they are! They get pubic hair around their genitals too.
For most girls: At first you will notice breast buds appear: i.e. a small raised lump behind the nipple. It can feel hard when you touch it and is often tender and sore. They may also get pubic hair around their genitals.
Variables such as your child’s weight, stress, culture and family genetics can have an influence on when puberty might start, however, there is no magical age. The one thing that you need to reassure your child of (and maybe yourself too) is that everyone in this amazing world is unique and different …and so is puberty.
