How to Teach Stages of Female Puberty
A lot of changes happen during female puberty, and having "The Talk" with a parent usually doesn't answer all of a girl's questions about what is happening to her. Teach your students about the changes going on in their body in detail and with grace. Understanding the stages of female puberty can help a girl accept and love her body despite the changes that are occurring.
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Instructions
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Teach Stages of Female Puberty
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Start by discussing the first stage of female puberty. Girls who haven't gone through puberty yet won't have any pubic hair or breast development.
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Explain the second stage of female puberty, which is when downy pubic hair starts to grow. A girl's breast becomes a little larger and forms into a breast bud. The areola's diameter also becomes larger. This stage also is the earliest during which a girl can menstruate, but it won't be regular right away. The average age for the onset of menstruation, also known as menarch, is 12.7 years. Ovulation often doesn't occur for 3 to 5 years.
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Teach the third stage of puberty, which is when a girl starts to resemble an adult a little more. Coarse, curly pubic hair begins to grow on a girl's pubic region. The areola on the breast grow into a larger mound.
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Tell the girl about the fourth stage of puberty. Pubic hair continues to grow all over the pubic region but does not spread to a girl's legs. Breasts also complete their development by becoming more round. The menstrual cycle will gradually become more regular and ovulation will begin.
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Finish your conversation by discussing the final stage of puberty. Female pubic hair will continue to grow on a girl's pelvis and near her legs. Her breasts will be at full size and may have a slight discharge. Teach the girl that this is nothing to worry about and does not mean she is pregnant. The girl's period will usually be regular by this stage and she will most likely be fertile.
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Tips & Warnings
Let your class ask plenty of questions. You might consider handing out index cards to let the girls ask questions anonymously but have them answered publicly. Allowing your class to ask questions this way can help the girls feel confident about the changes that will happen to each girl's body.
Direct your class to outside resources at the library or online. Use a website like I Wanna Know to let your students learn more about their bodies on their own time (see Resources below).
Don't end your lesson without explaining ways to deal with the stages of puberty. Girls should know how to buy a bra and how to handle their periods. Consider giving them books or packets to take home and read on their own in case they forget what you've taught them.
