Early Puberty

lucylucy

My daughter is just 10 (year 6, Primary school) and has started her periods today. I've explained to her over the years what it is so she knew it would happen someday. But it's started rather sooner than expected!

She's absolutely mortified and I just want to make this as easy as it can be for her, bless her.

I was thinking of buying a book that can help describe the changes she will experience. Can anyone recommend a good one for a girl so young?

euronorris

My sister got this one for my eldest neice: http://www.autismontario.com/client/aso/ao.nsf/(Images)/78713274D7551E048525762600596704/$FILE/whats%20happening%20to%20me%20Girl.jpg and it seemed to go down well.

I also started at 10. My Mum made an appt with the headmistress and we all sat down and discussed it together. It was more to let the headmistress know, so that she could tell the teachers so that they knew I may be asking to use the toilet more often than usual. It also helped to make me feel less alone, which I really did at that age as no one else in my school had started. You could do that maybe too?

wendz86

I started in year 6 and didn't have a clue what was happening to me!

A book sounds like a good idea, hope someone can mention a good one. If you can just make her feel less embarassed I am sure it will make her feel better.

Jussy

Got this for my daughter when she was a similar age

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Care-Keeping-You-American-Library/dp/1562476661/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1300196917&sr=8-1

It has been wonderful - very age appropriate.

Hope your daughter has been OK at school today.

Jx

lucylucy

Thanks very much for the replies!

Those books look great and not too grown up, thank you!

euronorris, thanks. I will need to talk to the school so she can use the toilet and get to her bag when she needs to.


Edit: Just ordered both those books from Amazon. They look brilliant. Thanks again!

euronorris

lucylucy wrote: »

Thanks very much for the replies!

Those books look great and not too grown up, thank you!

euronorris, thanks. I will need to talk to the school so she can use the toilet and get to her bag when she needs to.

Oh, and don't be surprised if some sanitary wear goes missing from her bag at first.

It happened to me and, at the time, completely baffled me. I've since learnt it was down to the curiosty of the other girls.

Oh, and some girls may even be jealous (if she decides to let anyone know). Odd as that sounds. A lot of them see it as a sign of being more grown up than others, in my experience. But I didn't experience anything nasty in that respect, they just told me they wish they had started already! :rotfl:I couldn't understand it at the time, and they certainly changed their minds once they had started! lol

lucylucy

At the moment she's just completely horrified and doesn't want anyone to know!

I think things get a bit easier when they get to High School and they have disposal facilities in the toilet cubicles and everyone is starting.

I just want her to get through the last months of Primary without too much trouble.

mrsspendalot

My DD is 10 nearly 11 in Year 6 and I have to admit we've not had 'the talk' yet. When I was at school there was an evening where mums and girls went in and had 'the talk' together and we came away with a freebie pack of towels and things for when it first happened so we were prepared. I've kind of been waiting for that to happen .... but now I'm wondering if they just don't do that anymore?!! I know they have at another school from a friend, and they had their talk last year. I didn't start until I was 13/14 .... but I know that might not be the case for my DD. I'm going to take a look at the links for the books and give it some thought. She's not a very mature girl for her age in a lot of ways, so I don't want to frighten her!

lucylucy

mrsspendalot, I'm pretty sure they don't do anything like that in our school.

My daughter is also quite young for her age so this was very unexpected. I hope your daughter has plenty of time yet before starting but good luck with "the talk!"

[Deleted User]

I would have been mortified if i had to sit in my head teachers office at that age to discuss this. I remember being at secondary school and being far too embarrassed to even ask the school nurse for some pads when i got caught short.

I even asked my mum to by me stuff for years until i left home and had to do it myself, i was worried i might bump into someone i knew. Now it just gets done without a second thought.......lol.

I remember once staying over at a friends house and having my period. I was worried in case of an accident so my mum phoned the other's girls mum to give her the heads up, but was also told not to mention it to my friends younger sister as i was too embarrassed.

When using the family bathroom, I would always take any wrappers/evidence back out with me and put them in a bag for the dustbin. I could never leave them in the bathroom bin for my dad or bro to see. Of course i didn't do this for years on end but to start with i did as i was so embarrassed. Silly really looking back now and esp now as on a shelf in my bathroom is some pads and tampons, not obvious but not hiding either and all sorts of builders and people are using our bathroom at the moment. Its part of life but your daughter will probably want it kept private and secret for a while.

Nowadays its amazing what me and my friends talk about.

That's my personal experience anyway.

pigpen

I got my girls a selection of pads so they could try a few and they both prefer boots ones (green packaging if that help) and hated always as the top layer is plasticky and made them feel sweaty and smelly. I also got hem a small pack of femfresh wipes which they used when they changed which boh recently said tey liked.. things are a bit mess the first few times we found.

This may sound stupid but.. show her how and where to dispose of the pads at home.. my 13 y/o was stoing the used pads in a drawer as she didn't know what to do with them... I know it sounds obvious.

2 girls down.. 4 to go in here..

I think it helped that ours always knew about them so they weren't quite so horrified when it happened. I was very young and didn't tell anyone for years.. i did ironing for pocket money so i could by pads.