Oh, Puberty.

 

What is it about that word that freaks everyone out so much?

You’re all going through it, or have gone through it, or are about to go through it. And guess what? Every single adult you know has gone through it too.

It’s something that every one of us has in common, yet rarely ever talks about.

Why is that?

Well, I guess when we think about it from a “birds & bees” standpoint it can get a little bit awkward. But it doesn’t have to be. In a perfect world, you’d march right up to a trusted adult… a health teacher perhaps? Look them straight in the eye, and ask them all of your burning questions. Maybe that’s asking too much. Especially when the Internet is right there… ready and able to answer all of your questions without so much as a blink.

The only thing is, the Internet is not all “trusted adult”. And some people on there have no idea what they’re talking about (Yahoo Answers, anyone?)

But if you know where to go… like the ever amazing teenhealth.org (notice the ORG in there), you’ll be off to a good start.

And by “start”, I mean you still need to talk to an adult. It’s puberty.

You know people (like your parents, for example) who have done this before. And in all the countless ways technology has made our lives easier, they still haven’t figured out a way to help us pubertize.

Maybe that can be your thing. Best of luck.

While we’re waiting… here are some more good starts:

Kids Health: Everything You Wanted to Know About Puberty

PBS Kids: It’s My Body

Brain Pop: Health (I heart you, Tim and Moby)

 

More hints and tips in the classroom...

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