I understand that you, as a parent, are naturally cautious when someone else teaches your child about reproduction.

If your child is in 5^th grade, you will probably be facing this challenge. Most public schools have in their curriculum some type of presentation about puberty during the 5^th grade year. Each school is different, but usually, the school gives parents an opportunity to review the materials they are going present. I encourage you to take advantage of this offer. It’s important for you to know what is being discussed.

My recommendation for you is to make sure your child understands the structure of their own reproductive system before they attend the presentation. This will help them to gain the most understanding from what they are learning.

I have written two books to help you prepare your kids for the 5^th grade puberty talk.

• For girls:
  • 8-9 years old: I’m a Girl, My Changing Body. It is great for girls who are at least a year away from starting their period. It explains the early signs of puberty like breast buds and hair in new places.
  • 10+ years old: I’m a Girl, Hormones!  This book explains the menstrual cycle and hormones. It is typical for schools to discuss the first period. It will give your daughter a depth of understanding about hormones that will give her confidence and help her feel she has control over the changes that are coming.
• For boys:
  • 8-10 years old: I’m a Boy, My Changing Body. This book is an introduction to puberty and emphasizes the structures of the reproductive system.
  • 11+ years old: I’m a Boy, Hormones!  Hormones play a very important role in a young boy’s life. They cause the formation of an ejaculate for the first time. There are also changes in the skin resulting in a new body odor and possibly pimples.

Give your children a deeper understanding

My mission is to inspire a greater depth of understanding for our young teens about their reproductive system so they can feel confident about themselves.  I have a vision of us raising responsible young teens that not only respect their own body but also other people’s body as well.

I hope this information is helpful to you. Please feel free to contact me on our website or through the facebook Anatomy for Kids page.  You will find additional helpful information for parents in both locations.