Puberty: problems and solutions

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Every person goes through this difficult but important stage of his life - puberty. Parents anxiously await this moment, wondering what it will bring and what to expect from their maturing child. During this period, complex physical and mental processes take place in the child's body. The hormones produced by the gonads begin to flow into the blood, the entire immune system is rebuilt. There is an active growth of all organs, and first of all - the brain. Growth rates at puberty are different for each part of the body, for example, the arms and legs stretch faster than the torso, so any teenager seems angular and awkward, sometimes because of this, coordination of movements is even temporarily disturbed.

Girls usually reach puberty at 10-12 years of age. Until that time, girls gain very little in height and weight, sometimes only 2-3 cm and a couple of kilograms per year. But from the beginning of puberty, they have a "brutal appetite", the annual weight gain is 6-7 kg, and the body grows by about a centimeter per month. In most cases, in girls, puberty begins with the growth of the mammary glands. First, the nipple increases, then graduallythe breast itself begins to grow. At the same time, the hips begin to expand, the waist appears. After six months or a year, active hair growth begins, and after about two years from the moment the first symptoms appear, the girl has her first menstruation. Of course, all this is individual and depends on many factors, from genetic predisposition to the ecology of the area where she lives and the food she eats.

A little later, puberty occurs in boys. It starts at the age of 12-13 and manifests itself in the rapid growth of the whole organism, starting with the genitals. The vocal cords lengthen, there is a "breaking" of the voice, lowering it by one octave. Increased hair growth begins: first in the armpits and groin, and a little later on the face. At the same time, the first wet dreams appear, which indicates the maturation of the seminal vesicles. The youthful body becomes more muscular, skeletal mass and muscle mass increase. Unlike girls, at puberty, the nervous system of boys is more unstable, they are subject to frequent mood swings and dissatisfaction with themselves. At this moment, it is very important to understand your child, because right now he is laying the character and disposition of the future man.

For parents, the puberty of their children is no less worrisome. A son or daughter, whom they used to see as small children, becomes adults and independent. Now they plan their own time, themselvesmake decisions. They have their own secrets, they retire in the companies of their peers. It is important not to "lose" the child during this period. This requires a trusting relationship with him, understanding and respect for him as a person. It is necessary to talk a lot with a teenager, discuss and encourage his decisions, tactfully correcting and directing him in the right direction. Only in this way can you become a friend to your child and strengthen these relationships for the rest of your life.