How to Talk to a Boy About Puberty
All boys bodies go through changes as they get older and enter puberty. Unfortunately, not every boy understands what is going and may ask someone what these changes mean. It is important for a boy to learn that what is happening to his body is normal and natural.
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Instructions
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Talk to a Boy About Puberty
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Stress that these changes are normal for every boy, and that everyone goes through them at some point. Puberty can cause insecurity and worry, so make sure you're reassuring and open to questions during your conversation with the boy.
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Use formal, anatomically correct language when talking to your son about puberty. Saying "wee-wee" when you mean "****" will embarrass your son and make him less likely to listen to what you have to say. If you can't resist using euphemisms, get someone else to talk to him about puberty.
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Get specific. Your son should know exactly what will happen to him. His voice will crack as his voice changes, his **** and testicles will grow larger and he may have wet dreams. Explain the importance of taking care of his body, such as washing his face to get rid of acne.
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Be prepared to answer some tough questions. Your son may want to know why his **** isn't very big and why he doesn't have pubic hair yet. Explain to him that everyone goes through puberty at a different rate, and it usually takes longer for boys than it goes for girls.
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Leave your son with something to read. The best way to do this would be to send him to a website that can give him more detail about puberty. One good example is the website for the American Academy of Pediatrics (see Resources below).
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Tips & Warnings
Boys usually feel a little better talking about their bodies with other males. If it is possible, you should allow the boy's father, uncle or another trusted male figure to talk to him rather than his mother. However, if there isn't another trusted male in his life, a trusted female should be the one to talk to him.
Don't wait for your son's school to talk to him about puberty. Often, that conversation comes too late. However, some parents never talk to their sons about puberty, so it would be a good idea to encourage your local school to start the conversation before puberty happens.
