Beginning your period can be a scary time for tween girls. As moms and grandmother’s we can do so much to make this transition into puberty easier for our girls. Preparing for her first period doesn’t have to be complicated. Figuring out how to broach the topic is probably the hardest part for most moms. After 3 daughters and 4 granddaughters, I am starting to figure this whole first period thing out. The best advice I can give you is to keep the conversation light. Here are some ideas on how to “break the ice” and get that first conversation with your daughter started.
First Period
1. Start off with a casual conversation about the new school year and ask your daughter questions about her new friends. Casually ask if any of her friends have started their period yet and continue “the talk” from there.
2. Give your daughter a book like “What’s Happening to Me?” along with a note telling her to write down five questions for you to answer and discuss after she has read the book.
3. Begin the conversation by sharing some of your childhood stories and tell about your own first period experience.
4. Do something fun. Have “the talk” when you’re doing one of your favorite activities with your daughter.
5. Give her a first period kit. Put together a first period kit containing a few pads and some other personal items your daughter will use.
6. Share with your daughter the U by Kotex Hello Period web site which is full of useful first period information for tweens and teens.
Just remember to keep it light and make sure you have privacy. If you’re nervous about what to say, jot down some notes to make sure you cover everything you wanted to. It’s important to mention that you shouldn’t wait too long before having “the talk” with your tween. Girls are starting their periods as early as 8 years old, so I encourage you to get the conversation started early.
Do you need more information or ideas?
The Kotex web site is a great reference to prepare for “the talk” with your daughter. I encourage you to check it out, before and after talking with your daughter. You can also connect with U by Kotex on Facebook.
Disclosure: I wrote this review while participating in a Brand Ambassador Campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of U by Kotex Tween and received products to facilitate my post and a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate. #KotexMom
What a great kit. That’s such a neat idea. But, WHAT is that spiky thing in the picture?
It’s a compact hair brush. I carry one in my own purse. It’s so handy!
Very good ways to handle “the talk”. Wish my Mom would’ve given me the talk instead of letting me find out for myself and then having our Dad take us to the store to get our “supplies”.
I wish they had information like this available when I was a girl! I remember being so freaked out when it happened! Thanks for sharing 😉
What a neat idea. I wish that was around when I was younger!
So happy I have boys, but great info, wish blogs was around when I was young.
That is fantastic. Seriously wish stuff like this was around when I was younger!
It’s so important to discuss the topic before it happens – otherwise girls end up being scared and upset when it happens esp if they haven’t had ‘the talk’ at school yet. As you mentioned, it’s no longer uncommon for girls as young as age 8 to start (I have two girls in my family who started just after their 9th birthdays) and our school doesn’t have the class until part way through 4th grade so I know a couple of girls in my family have started before the school talks to them about it.
So informative! My daughter got a book all on her own and I read through it too so I knew what and how she was learning. We have a very open relationship but we have this system that whenever there is something she feels uncomfortable talking or asking about, she writes me a letter. This helps immensely.
These are some really great tips! I am sure it will make the talk easier for a lot of parents!
I don’t remember getting the period talk but I must have. I know I was kinda horrified when it happended because I started pretty early. This is a really cute idea though and I’ve got two girls. Hopefully I have a little more time to prepare (one is 16 months and the other is 10).