How To Explain Periods To A Child

Tools For Tracking Your Cycle

Kids Learn About Periods | Parents Explain | Cut

It’s common for a girls period to be irregular for the first year or two. Everyone has their own cycle, so it is a good idea to keep a calendar. Start it with the first day of the period.

  • GirlsHealth.gov has a cycle calendar and printed.
  • For iPod or iPhone users, there are several apps that can help track and anticipate menstrual cycles. Two popular ones are iPeriod and Period Tracker. These apps are able to be password protected, which can prevent embarrassment if a friend or sibling gets a hold of your daughter’s phone or iPod.

How To Talk To Kids About Periods

Awkward? Embarrassing? Uncomfortable? Kids need reliable, factual information about what will happen to their bodies when they go through puberty.

These might be some of the thoughts and feelings you have at the prospect of talking to your child about periods . However, the earlier you talk to them the better.

Kids need straight-forward, factual information about what will happen to their bodies when they go through puberty.

Periods usually begin between the ages of 10 and 16, but they can begin as early as age 8.

Knowledge is power and providing the facts about periods will empower your child to feel confident and make well informed decisions about their body.Image credit: Pexels

Here are some top tips to help you talk to your child about periods:

What Types Of Periods Are There

As you can see in the example, there are two ways to use periods. In addition, depending on how complex the writing is, you might have to use both.

At first, kids write isolated sentences that always end with a period. When writing longer texts, they will use a period to mark the end of paragraphs.

Paragraphs are more complex structures that have ideas with a common theme. Therefore, there are more than one punctuation mark in sentences.

In the process of going from isolated sentences to texts with paragraphs, they learn connectors that start sentences to make it easier. In fact, one of the simplest exercises is to explain what you did throughout the day. This way, each action is a phrase that ends with a period and has a logical order.

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When Do Periods Start

Most young people will have their first periods when theyre between 11 and 14½, but anywhere from 9-16 years is considered normal.

Periods are likely to start soon if your child has:

  • had a major growth spurt
  • grown some underarm and pubic hair
  • developed breasts.

If your child hasnt started their period by the time they turn 16, its a good idea to talk with your childs GP. There can be many reasons why periods havent started by then, and the GP can help to rule out any serious problems.

Signs Shes Hitting Puberty

Updated Learning: Menstrual Cycle For Dummies

Puberty usually starts between 9 and 13 years old. During this time, your daughter will experience most or all of these changes:

  • Developing breasts

Research has shown that when a mother relays her own experiences to help explain puberty, it gives her daughter a framework with which to understand the world.

It doesnât matter if your story is about something difï¬cult, such as feeling embarrassed because of your period in the school changing rooms. As long as thereâs a positive resolution, your experiences can provide valuable lessons, and help her feel like she can talk to you.

Write her a note

Your daughter â or indeed you â may feel awkward discussing her ï¬rst period. Rather than having to explain periods to a child straight off the bat, open up the conversation by writing a note and leaving it somewhere she can ï¬nd it. You could try something like:

I don’t want you to be confused or worried about your period. I’ll always be here for you, any time you want to talk about periods, or ask about pads or tampons or anything, just let me know. Love Mum X

The important thing is that itâs written in a tone that sounds like you.

Encourage period openness

The more you can encourage everyone in the household to be open about puberty and periods, the better.

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Resources To Help With Talking About Puberty

My mission is to create resources that will help you to naturally talk to your kids about sex, all while respecting your personal values.

Which means that inside this website, youll find lots of resources to help you with talking to your child about puberty.

My Puberty 101 page includes all of the information on puberty. Youll find lots of different blog posts to help with talking to your child about growing up.

Youll find videos about puberty in my Sex Education Videos resource page that you can watch with your child or to learn more about puberty yourself.

Youâll also find an extensive range of childrenâs books on puberty, for kids of all ages.

If you get stuck and feel that you need some extra support with talking to your child about puberty, then my book, The Parents Guide to Puberty, may be helpful. Its a straightforward common sense guide that will help you to start having honest conversations that will guide your child through puberty, and strengthen your relationship without feeling embarrassed, awkward or nervous.

Or maybe youre looking for a video course to sit down and watch together with your child. My friend Rowena from Amazing Me has created a fantastic 2 part interactive course for parents/carers to attend together with their 9 to 12 year old. Itâs fun, educational and age-appropriate! You can learn more about her puberty course here.

And if you get stuck, feel free to get in touch! You can contact me here.

Explaining Menstruation To Kids

Explaining my period to a 2.5 year old

May 2006

I strongly believe in simple, honest answers that give as little information as my child will accept. Long explanations overwhelm her and she often wants to know much less than her questions suggest. My 2.75-year-old daughter and I just had this conversation tonight and it wasn’t the first time. She already knew what a tampon was called because she’d found one and asked what it was about a year ago and I just said ”It’s a tampon.”

Today she saw me inserting a tampon and asked, ”What are you doing with that tampon? Why are you putting it there?” I said ”Grown- up women have blood that comes out every month if they are not making a baby.” She said, ”You’re not making a baby?” I said that I was not. She laughed and said, ”Why?” I said, ”Because I already have one!” She asked why I needed to stop the blood. I told her I didn’t want it to get on my underwear or on my clothes. End of conversation. I think we started having this discussion when she turned 2, although she had found tampons and asked about them much earlier. After a while of knowing the name, I guess she wanted to know what they were for! Anon

How to explain your period to a 4-year-old

What to say to a 3-year-old about tampons & pads

Explaining the difference between menstrual blood and real blood to a toddler

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Why Do We Use Periods

Imagine, for example, you have a paragraph like this, no periods just commas, because with commas you have a small pause, no time to stop, reading is much faster and thoughts start to pile up, but some people think its fine, but its actually not, especially for children, who start with simpler sentences of just a few words, if they read this text, they would only know one thing when theyre done reading, and thats that they dont understand anything.

In fact, its even hard for adults to read that. Lets see what it should look like:

Imagine, for example, that you have a paragraph like this, with no periods and just commas. However, no matter how may commas there are, you dont have time to stop. You read faster, and thoughts pile up. Some people think this is fine, but its actually not, especially for children. Children start with sentences of just a few words. Therefore, if they read this text, they would know only one thing when theyre done: they dont understand anything.

Much better now, right?

What Do Males Need To Know About Periods

Kids Explain Periods | Flex

Male children need to know that females go through puberty as well. Some of the changes for females are the same, and some of them are different.

So it might be helpful for your child to know that:

  • it is part of the reproductive cycle for females
  • each month a females body gets ready to have a baby
  • the uterus grows a thin layer of blood and special tissue that make a soft bed for a baby to grow on
  • if there is no pregnancy, the body throws the bed away, as it isnât needed
  • this usually happens once a month until they go through menopause in their 50s
  • sometimes periods can be uncomfortable
  • pads and tampons are used to absorb the blood
  • a period is a normal part of being female
  • a female is fertile once they start to have their periods
  • there are many other words for periods menstruation
  • there is also lots of slang and some of it can be insulting
  • periods only happen to people with a uterus
  • which means that a transgender male may experience periods as they still have a uterus
  • peoples may feel embarrassed talking about their periods
  • its important to not tease them about it
  • sometimes periods can stain clothing and this can be very embarrassing for people
  • they should never shame someone when this happens
  • they should discretely let them know that this has happened
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    How Early Should I Talk To My Kid About Periods

    Kids should definitely understand periods well before they have one or hear about their peers having one, but there is no age thatâs too young to start talking. For young children, a discussion of periods often happens when they see their mother or an older sibling using period products. Thatâs a perfect time to use your âno big dealâ attitude and explain

    1.) that a period is just a normal part of life

    2.) it isnât always painful

    3.) pads or tampons are how we take care of it.

    With early drama-free discussions that normalize periods, it becomes a lot easier to add the details they need as they approach or begin puberty.

    What Happens If I Don’t Have Pads Or Tampons Handy

    If this happens, here are your options: Borrow from a friend, buy some from a restroom dispenser, visit the school nurse if you’re at school, or call home so your mom or dad can bring you what you need. If you are desperate and trying to keep your clothes from staining, you can fold up some tissues or toilet paper and place them in your underwear. That won’t work for long, so you’ll need to get some pads or tampons quickly.

    If you’re nervous about telling the school nurse, a teacher, or another adult about what you need, write it down on a piece of paper or use code words. You might say that “it’s that time of the month” or that you need some “personal supplies.” Even better, keep extras in your backpack, locker, or gym bag.

    Also Check: What Medical Condition Can Cause 2 Periods In One Month

    Keeping Track Of Periods

    Its good for your child to keep track of their periods with an app, calendar or diary. If your childs periods are fairly regular, an app or calendar can help your child know when their period is likely to come. This way your child can prepare for things like sleepovers, school camps or swimming carnivals.

    What If Blood Leaks Through My Undies And Pants

    Contagious Periods for Common Childhood Diseases

    Oh, no! There’s blood on the back of your pants what do you do? It happens to just about every girl at some point. Sometimes it happens when you aren’t at home, so you can’t change right away. But if you’re wearing a sweater or jacket, you can take it off and tie it around your waist. Then get a fresh tampon or pad so that it doesn’t bleed through your pants more than it already has.

    Change as soon as you can. You’ll need to rinse your underwear and pants with cold water as soon as possible. Sometimes, the stain comes out and sometimes it doesn’t. To avoid this problem, change your pads and tampons regularly and keep extras in your backpack or locker.

    For extra protection on heavy days, some girls use a tampon and wear a pad or absorbent period underwear. You also might want to wear dark-colored underwear and pants during your period.

    Reviewed by: Larissa Hirsch, MDDate Reviewed: 01-01-2020

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    When Will I Start My Period

    No one can predict exactly when a young woman will start her first period. However, referring to how old a girl’s mother was when she had her first period may be helpful. Some physical changes that may indicate menstruation will soon begin is when your daughter weighs about 100 pounds, has pubic hair and experiences full breast development. When a young girl starts her period, a small amount of brownish drainage will be visible on her underwear and/or toilet paper. The amount of blood lost over a 3 – 5 day period is about ¼ cup, which can vary by individual. Also, the timing of a period tends to be different for each woman, but it generally occurs every 28 35 days.

    How To Talk To Children About Periods

    We all go through puberty and the changes that come with it. But these changes can feel strange when they first happen, and girls might be nervous about their first period. Talking to them about it can help them prepare for the changes theyll go through. Here, Ill explain why its important to talk about periods, and how you can explain them to your children.

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    When Should I Start Talking About Periods

    Most girls have their first period at age 12 or 13, but they can start at any time from age 8 until age 15. By age 7, most children can understand the basic concept of periods, so this could be a good time to talk with them about it.

    You might find it easier to start the conversation when your child is young and give them more information as they get older. That way, your child will have a better idea of whats going to happen to their body before they reach puberty.

    How To Explain Periods To A Child

    Periods | Parents Explain | Cut
    • Date: August 3, 2022
    • Time to read: 5 min.

    In todays world, everyone seems to know about the period. The period is an awkward subject that most people arent entirely sure how to explain. But if youre looking for ways to explain periods to your child, keep reading!Nowadays, parents have such a good understanding of kids and their needs that it can seem like every parent knows exactly what to do when it comes to toddlers and preschoolers. As much as we try to prepare our kids for everything that comes with being a kid, there are still going to be moments when we dont know what to say or do. This can make talking about periods even more difficult for us than it has to be.

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    When Do Most Girls Get Their First Period

    Every girls body has its own schedule, and periods can start at different ages. Most girls get their first period when they are between 10 and 15 years old. The average age is 12. However, there is not one right age to get a period.

    There are some physical changes that can symbolize a period starting soon. Usually, a girl gets her period about two years after her breasts begin to develop. Another sign to look for is vaginal discharge fluid that typically begins six months to a year before the first period.

    Quick Advice For Dads

    Dads are such important champions for their kids, and talking about puberty and periods should be one more thing theyâre great at. Most Dads didnât grow up with a lot of information about puberty and periods, but today, there are more and more dads stepping up to learn, ask questions, and get more comfortable with periods. For dads new to period talk, the easiest way to start is to acknowledge that you understand a little about periods and you know theyâre normal, healthy, and nothing to be embarrassed about. Then you can ask your daughter to help you learn more, and let her lead. She may need to get used to things herself at first, but with your continued support and positive attitude, sheâll get more comfortable over time â she might even ask YOU to pick up her next box of tampons.

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    Why Should I Talk To My Child About Periods

    As with any bodily function, talking about periods can feel uncomfortable. But boys and girls should learn about periods because theyre part of everyday life. And if you can provide children with reliable information about periods, youll help them make informed choices about their reproductive health as they grow older.

    Its possible that your child will pick up information about periods online, from social media, from friends or at school. But this information is not always explained thoroughly. Your child might have questions they cant get the answers to elsewhere.

    If you cant answer all their questions, dont worry there are lots of resources online. There are also books about periods and puberty for different age groups. You and your child could read these together.

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