Seeking Advice About Talking with Daughter About Puberty.

When my mom talked to me and my brothers about sex she used a book called What's Happening to Me. It has very funny illustrations and makes light of the subject. It kind of helps break the ice. My mom bought it for me and gave it to me as a baby shower gift for when I have "the talk" with my daughter.

My inlaws bought the same book that everyone else was refering to for my DD,"Are you there God it's me Margaret". We never really spoke about if the book was useful or not to hershe did say that they learned all of it in health class in 4th grade. I can say that the public school systems in Pa. takes care of mostly everything before you even realise it is time. Start by asking what does your daughter already knows and correct any misinformation she may have. I feel the best way to approach this is by scheduling your DD a well exam with her pediatrician and start the conversation there, ask the Dr. for some literature. (they will have some very important key points that we as parents may forget). Good luck and make a day of it..dr appt, library(for some more info, pictures, etc.) and lunch (a good time for questions).

BEST BOOK: "the care and keeping of you" by the american girl library. it is WONDERFUL!
M.

My daughter and I read the book "Are you there God it's me Margeret" by Judy Blume. It talks about how the body goes thru changes and what to expect. We read it when she was 9 going on 10, and my youngest was there listening too. And she is 3 yrs younger. So i kind of killed 2 birds with 1 stone, since she now knows also. Now 2 yrs later my oldest has gotten her period and my youngest is asking when she would be getting hers ( hehehe).
Hope this helps!

Hello E., I also have a girl who will be 11 in Nov. and a step daughter who is 14. When my step d got her period at 11 it was too late for her so we were better prepared for my 10 year old. We bought them the book The Care and Keeping of You. It is a book meant to be read by girls 9-12. I also think Barnes and Noble has a section devoted to the subject of puberty. I have found that with our girls being completely honest is best. Let the child ask questions and answer them no matter how embarrassing it is for you. Also I have always used the clinical names for the genitals with my daughter and it has made it easier for us to talk about puberty. Once you get big sister threw the talk you will probably find little sister will learn a lot from her. I did from my sister. So make sure you provide the correct info to big sis now. Don't sugar coat anything she needs to be mentally prepared for the day she gets her period. Tell her what changes to expect and why they are happening. Show her were the pads are in your home in case dad is with her when it comes. Discuss bras and why she will need to wear one if she already doesn't. I would take a pad with you and show her how it works. I hope this helps.

T.

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.a...

Hi, Ihave not been through this yet, my oldest is 7, but my sister-in-law did the greatest thing with her daughter. She bought a book from ameerican girl called the caring and keeping of me, I believe thats the name. It not only talks about puberty but taking care of your body as a whole, hair skin face as well as all of the "womanly" things. She was also able to have a special night away with her daughter, they saw a show, stayed at hotel just the two of them for the night and were able to have "the talk" with no brothers or fathers walking in on them. If the night out isn't possible, you could always get your husband to take the rest of the children out for the day or an overnight at grammy's. I hope this helps.

LOL I had to laugh when I read the comment about finding out everything in New Jersey. I grew up in NJ, and believe me, I knew NOTHING. My mom was afraid to talk about anything that happened "down there". And as far as I could tell, my friends were all in the same ignorant boat. We passed around a LOT of bad information! When I found some of my mother's pads in a closet, she told me that they were "for women who don't want to have a baby." Good thing I didn't end up thinking they were some sort of birth control!
I applaud you for talking to your daughter. I have only sons, but because my husband just crashed and burned trying to talk to them, I talked to them myself. We really never had one big discussion, but rather lots of shorter discussions from ... well,. geeze I guess from the time they could even participate in a conversation. But around 5th grade or so, I talked to them about what girls go through, because boys really need to know about menstruation, the female reproductive system, etc. I think a lot of parents of boys don't think that's important. But I kid you not, I had to explain to my husband AFTER we were married, what fallopian tubes and ovaries are. I vowed then and there not to send any men into the world as ill-informed as he was!

honestly she is in what 4 or 5th grade something like that...she might know more than you think depending on where you live. i live in pa now. i was born in arkansas when i was in 6th grade i moved to new jersey and didnt even know what pot was but believe me i got introduced. living in nj tought me everything by the time i was out of middle school. so what i am saying is depending on where you live she might know alot already or, like you probably think, she might know nothing. i honestly would take her out somewhere and just say look i want to talk to you about becoming a woman. i want to know what you know about going through puberty. and express it is ok to talk and feel uncomfertable and that you are only asking her first because you dont want to talk her ear off on something ahe might already know. that is what i would do.

I think taking her so the younger doesn't hear yet is a great idea! I don't have a puberty aged child yet, but whe I got the talk, my mom was awful about it. I got it cause my cousin got her period before she was 10, so I got the talk then JIC. But ny aunt gave me a book called "are you there god, it's me Margaret". It was kinda hokey, and kinda off beat but I think it helped me a bit with the adolescent thing...Good Luck!!

To tell you the truth, my 10 yr. old just turned 10 on March 9, 2010.. so I don't have alot of advice but if you find some out please let me know because I'm still learning too. I' just starting to go thrugh this myself...So good luck and keep me posted....THANKS