Preparing your daughter for her first period

If you have a daughter approaching that 10-15 year age range, then the time is near for you to prepare her for her first period and the realities of puberty. Next to teaching a child how to drive, this can be one of the more nerve-wracking tasks for a parent. But it may be easier than you think.

It’s good to start talking with your child before she has her first period, so she can be as prepared as possible, both emotionally and with a practical plan for dealing with her first period. If your child approaches you, you should be ready to talk.

I would tell a young woman what to expect as her body changes and her body develops. They need to know about their menstrual cycle and daily discharge and what that means – what is normal and abnormal.

And odors change and the color of things change. The texture of hair even changes.”

Don’t know an answer? Don’t make something up.

“Tweens and teens are smarter than we think,” Dr. Foster said. “Always be frank and honest, because they know when we’re not.”

Instead, offer to look it up together on trusted websites. This can provide you an opportunity to share websites on the topic that provide useful information, and discuss how to avoid all the rumors, myths and lies online.

 Approach early, talk often

First thing is the approach. If your child is approaching puberty, has friends experiencing it or is in the early stages of puberty but hasn’t approached you with questions, yet, you should initiate the conversation.

Try gauging at first what her knowledge level is of puberty and menstruation, so you know what topics to discuss and don’t go too far too soon.