If you’re flipping through this book, you must have been asked one of “those” questions recently. Or maybe you were surprised to hear your little girl having girl talk that sounded like big-girl talk. Perhaps you’ve noticed your daughter or one of her friends showing signs of puberty, and you realize it’s time for that talk.
That’s why we’re here.
Since 2002, Girlology has been helping families improve communication about puberty, sexuality, and adolescent behaviors. This book is based on our most popular daughter-mom program: “Something New About You.” It is written for girls ages eight through twelve, and it covers everything about puberty without diving into reproduction and its associated topics. Like many books, it’s most helpful to your girl when she has an adult to follow along and answer questions or hear her comments.
There are several reasons to share a book like this with your elementary-age girl. Obviously, you want her to be prepared for the changes that come with puberty, and whether you’re ready or not, puberty sneaks in as early as age seven. You want her to have an accurate and trusted source for information rather than relying on the tales she hears on the playground from some kid who has been miseducated by an older sibling. But most important, you want to establish yourself as her “go to” person when it comes to health and sexuality education. You do. Really. Open communication about these topics has been shown to delay the onset of sexual behaviors and to improve protective behaviors among teens. And now is the ideal time to open those communication lines.
Scared? Don’t be. It’s a lot easier than you think. And besides, we promise to offer help along the way. Visit our website at www.girlology.com for talking tips and other resources. You can also turn to the next books in our series: Girlology: A Girl’s Guide to Stuff That Matters, and for high school and college girls, Girlology’s Hang Ups, Hook Ups, and Holding Out.
Get started on those conversations that matter!
Melisa Holmes, M.D.
Trish Hutchison, M.D.
Girlology