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Post by Jackie on Sept 30, 2005 12:51:02 GMT -5
OK...this is really for someone who is non DS ...but maybe its time to bring it up again anyhow for those of you with almost teens.... My Grandson is almost 11 and freaking out about puberty....I guess in his fifth grade class there is a real focus on some film they will see near the end of the year....When he asked his mom if HE would be getting a period... ;D....I told her it was time to do some in depth educating. Told her one good way is to use an easy to understand book that explains the development of BOTH sexes and to read it with him. (I don't believe in just leaving this to the daddies ) She suggested I turn to you guys for some suggestions since you seem to always have good answers for questions like these. My grandson prefers sports to reading....so the fewer words the better.....LOL Jackie mom to Emily 25
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Post by momofrussell on Sept 30, 2005 13:10:07 GMT -5
Hmmmm well, I don't know any specific books persay.. but I would take the boy TO the library and have him help look for books. I am a bit taken back at 11 he thought HE might get a period too though. I would suggest mom and dad maybe talk about how it was for them too going through puberty. With Regan, she was reluctant so I have to have serious talks like this in a somewhat joking manner... if that may help. I also ASKED her questions too... to see just where she was with it all and what she wanted to know. Like you say.. the less words the better.
I WILL let you know that Regan is now 12 and she is in the 7th grade this year. Since 5th grade they have covered this EVERY year... usually the same thing over and over. We have an ongoing joke.. she and I... "How many movies do you need to watch to learn about your period?!" LMAO.. because that is about how it was.. but this year... OOOOWWEEEEE SERIOUS, INTENSE.. VERY DETAILED!!!! They haven't started it but they had a parents meeting and I missed it.. but got the scoop... so let your grandson know he will learn every year and to get comfy with it all! LOL
Good luck!!!!
A.
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Post by Kristen on Sept 30, 2005 13:11:14 GMT -5
No big advice here, but this is funny! I'm sorry, but boy oh boy, I remember those days as a kid talking about the "movie" or "the book". Poor kid! Does it need to be a book or can she get the words out to just tell him?
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Post by Jackie on Sept 30, 2005 13:39:39 GMT -5
LOL...apparently there are some words connected to this post that we CAN'T write....cuz my last post just got rejected.... ;D so I will try again..... Kristen...I just suggested a book because I think sometimes it's very hard to just sit your pre-pube down and say....hey lets have a heart to heart about your crazy emotions and your hairy little body....... Discussing development is not something that many of us do without some embarassment ...for whatever reason...so making the book ...with its information...the focus initially sort of helps break the ice. But I do think it's very important that kids get the CORRECT information before the school and their friends start teaching it...and that they get it first from their parents. Jackie
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Post by Ericsmomma on Sept 30, 2005 19:44:48 GMT -5
Jackie,
At my office (pediatric) the docs give out a booklet about "puberty" to each child around 10yrs of age and older. I think its from the American Academy of pediatrics. You might suggest your daughter ask her pediatrican for any info. Good luck! Dolly
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Post by ALLISA on Sept 30, 2005 20:52:03 GMT -5
LOL Jackie !! I am going through this right now.....my son is 11...almost 12.....and being a single mom.....I'm doing all the talking !!! We do our best talking in the car....usually with the other 2 asleep....after a long road trip,etc......car talking is easy I think.....if anyone is embarasssed.....you can always look out the window ! My son's school let the parents preview "the movie" first....ours was VERY harmles (puberty.growth & develioment ONLY).....2 different movies....one for boys & one for girls .....and they did not teach about what the other sex was going through....boys got the boys lesson....girls got the girls lesson.......BUT....... I was shocked to hear from my son afterwards....that he knew all the information anyways.....ALL THE INFORMATION !!! Even the "big stuff" not discussed in the movie !! LOL I am a firm believer in CONSTANT communication....not just "the big talk" that my mom had with me & then nothign was EVER broguht up again. I think that it can be uncomfortable for parents......but it is Soooooooo important to talk to them when they are young and still actually listening to you !! These computer/internet savvy kids are prone to so much on the internet.....they know ( or think they know ) so much....but they need parents to teach them about REAL intimacy....respect.... and not just the blatant images & sites they can be bombarded with if they are not supervised !
As far as reading goes.....there is a Marc Brown book ( form the Arthur series.....callled "what's the big secret?"...it may be for a slightly younger audience.....but it covers the basics......I don't know much more than that.... but if you find a good one.....let me know.......Connor announced to me the other day that not only does he have a girlfrined.....they are going to a dance together next Friday night at the Youth Center.....gulp.....my baby is growing up !! LOL Middle school is at least a little innocent still.....I don't think boyfirend/girlfrineds actually even speak to each other !! LOL Connor is soooo shy, so I was shocked when he told me, but SHE asked him to the dance !! Very cute !!
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Post by Connie on Oct 1, 2005 8:26:59 GMT -5
OK....I really have to switch school districts. Griffin is 9 and in the 4th grade....We have the movie towards the end of this school year!!! Man...its just not RIGHT!!! Connie
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Post by momofrussell on Oct 1, 2005 9:42:27 GMT -5
Connie... just get prepared... EVERY district is or should be doing it. I said Regan started the movie stuff in 5th.. I stand corrected actually! We just moved here a month or so prior to 4th grade ending. The second week she was in school she watched "the movie". LMAO... 3-4 yrs later we are STILL doing "the movie"! That is why we joke about it!!!!! I have to say, with all this puberty stuff... Regan is taking it in stride. She is also DX'd w/ADD and lives in her own world. She has been in her "off" time for 3 days or so (she hasn't started her womanly cycle yet)... and we had a good talk about where she has been (or hasn't) mentally and I said maybe this is something that might be happening once a month around when you might start.. because it's JUST around the corner... and she replied "yeah, I already thought about that".. So.. I am doing my job well I guess! She might not like to talk about it and might not like puberty.. but I am getting through subtly for her to be aware of her body. I told her later I was proud of her to be IN TUNE with her body.. THAT is important too for us to explain to our kids! Not just the acts and reprocusions... but that it IS their body and THEY need to know it inside and out physcically and mentally.. in case something is amiss. So.. don't forget to teach your kids that too!!!! A.
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Post by Emilysmom on Oct 1, 2005 10:32:09 GMT -5
Jackie~ Although our kids do have a class on puberty issues with "the movie" in 5th grade,at school, our church has started doing a weekly thing every Sunday morning for the 5th and 6th grade kids too. I like the way they have done it...........it is an audio tape that the class listens to each week by James Dobson. BUT, the week BEFORE each lesson, the parents have a class where they get to listen to the same tape. That way, we'll know what kinds of things to talk with the kids about to reinforce or clarify what they have talked about in class. Jordan (5th grade, age 12) comes home EVERY week talking nonstop about it. He says that a couple times, the girls and boys were separated into 2 different classes. On one of those days, I asked Emily "how was class"? My girl who is normally NOT very talkative and who generally doesn't share much about her day at school or anything.........went on and on and on about it! She said they "talked about boys and sex and periods and everything"! I talked to her teacher and she said Emily responded to all of it just like the other girls did.....listened carefully and was a bit giggly at times.
I know there are also good books on this topic out there.
Susan
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Post by rickismom on Oct 1, 2005 14:41:34 GMT -5
Well, here it is ussually the parents who do the teaching. Soon I will have to teach Ricki (she is nearly 11 but only in 3rd grade! I got her a training bra. The REAL big lessons (on periods) will come as soon as I see hair below. But a LOT has to be done before that. Like: -learning about our bodies -recognizing emotions -dealing with emotions - make choices and living with what you choose - babies grow in Mommies (that she is learning from her sisters in law....) public and private : body areas/ actions/ places (Like if she wants to give me a BIG full body hug when on the street, I say "No, not in public") -strangers/ aqaintences/ friends/ family--- no, even tho' the store owner wants to give you a present, we can't accept it because we do not accept gifts from strangers........
A very good online article can be found at:http://www.downssa.asn.au/indexf.html
The same society has a teaching program, but I can't afford it. But it gives a list of the modules, so that gives you an idea of WHAT needs teaching...
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Post by Tammy on Oct 2, 2005 2:27:00 GMT -5
Jackie... I used some excellent books with my Daughter, one called "Where Did I Come From?" and another "Whats Happenning to Me?". They are written in language that children can understand and use comic drawings not scary "real" looking pictures. I got them from our local Library and cannot remember the Authors. These books were around when I was learninf this stuff too, so they are pretty old, but very good if you can find them. I tried a quick search on google and havnt come up with any further info on them, but will keep trying for you. Hope this may help some.
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Post by Tammy on Oct 2, 2005 2:32:47 GMT -5
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