Puberty
Helping your children understand changes at puberty
(Information taken from the SCARF Resources)
Children following the SCARF programme will already have a good understanding of their bodies, and how and why they change as they go through puberty.
For this age group it's often about building on that information and developing further knowledge about the emotional changes that take place. This should take place alongside learning the reasons for the changes in more detail, including developing an understanding of how people are able to reproduce - if they want to - when they’re adults.
Parents are recognised as children's primary educators for Relationships and Sex Education (RSE), yet many feel unprepared. Often this is because they had poor RSE themselves - from home, school, or both.
The following information and resources are designed to support you in helping your child navigate the emotional and physical changes that take place during puberty, as well as learning about sex in the context of safe, loving relationships.
Suggested reading list for 8-11 year-olds, covering reproduction/puberty/relationships/gender
- Girls Only by V Parker
- How your Body Works by Judy Hindley
- Let’s Talk About Sex by R H Harris
- Living with a Willy by N Fisher
- Sex is a Funny Word by C Silverberg and F Smyth
- The Period Book by K Gravelle
- The Puberty Book by W Darvill
- What’s Happening to Me? by P Mayle
- Alien Nation by The Proud Trust
Useful books for parents
Questions Children Ask and How to Answer Them by Dr M Stoppard
Speakeasy: Talking with your Children about Growing Up by fpa (Family Planning Association)
Useful websites for children
Amaze.org- Puberty section (Age 9+)
BBC Teach –The Big Talk (age 9-12)
Male puberty - including wet dreams
Outspoken - RSE worksheets
NHS Puberty
Useful websites for parents
Sitting in car YouTube Channel: how to talk comfortably with your kids about sex and consent
Talking to your child about online sexual harassment- a guide for parents
Other suggested RSE Activities:
Draw around bodies
Draw around bodies and label parts, using correct words (and family names) and their purpose
What's in the bag? Puberty
Put together your own ‘puberty bag’ from household items. Discuss each one and why it’s used, e.g. deodorant, razors, tampons/pads, shower gel, washing powder, tissues, hair gel.
What's in the bag? Growing up
Same as above for contents of handbag; items support discussions about growing up
Anonymous questions box
Have an old shoe box, or similar, where children could post questions that they might not be able to ask you verbally.
Praise and thank them for their questions. Try to answer them using the webpages above to help provide age-appropriate, fact-based answers.