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.
So, to help you be ready,Vanessa Foster, MD, an obstetrician and gynecologistat OSF HealthCare – and a mother of teenage girls – has some simple tips to guide you.
Be prepared
事先了解你的东西。Research commonquestions and answers. The more confident you are in your knowledge of the subject, the easier it may be to project comfort and understanding.
了解更多关于女性生长的知识。
“I would tell a young woman what to expect as her body changes and her body develops. They need to know about theirmenstrual cycleand daily discharge and what that means – what is normal andabnormal.
And odors change and the color of things change. The texture of hair even changes.”
不知道答案?别瞎编了。
“Tweens and teens are smarter than we think,” Dr. Foster said. “Always be frank and honest, because they know when we’re not.”
相反，你可以主动提出一起到值得信赖的网站上查询。这可以为你提供一个机会，分享关于这个话题的网站，提供有用的信息，并讨论如何避免网上所有的谣言，神话和谎言。
Approach early, talk often
First thing is the approach. If your child is approachingpuberty, has friends experiencing it or is in theearly stages of pubertybut hasn’t approached you with questions, yet, you should initiate the conversation.
Try gauging at first what her knowledge level is of puberty andmenstruation, so you know what topics to discuss and don’t go too far too soon.
计划一次以上的谈话，这样你就不会马上向她透露太多信息。这也让她有时间处理新信息，提出问题，她甚至可能会自己问你。This is a good sign that she is interested in learning about the topic and trusts she can come to you with questions.
“I think open dialogue fosters further open dialogue as your relationship changes and progresses with your daughter,” Dr. Foster said.
An open avenue of communication with your child is a great way to help her deal with what can be a challenging and stressful time in her life.
Have your game face ready
Creating and maintaining an open line of communication with your child is an important part of a healthy relationship. It grows trust and comfort and can help you stay active in their life as they grow more independent. But maintaining that communication is not always easy.
If your child feels comfortable coming to you withquestions and concerns, you may receive a bit of shock when it hits you that she is growing up and becoming curious about sexuality.
If possible, however, try to keep any shock or surprise hidden. You don’t want her to feel ashamed about bringing questions and problems to you.
“他们会问你一些你没有想过的问题，所以你必须面无表情，”福斯特博士说。
Be approachable and proactive
Don’t leave your child to learn on their own. Be a source of support and understanding. It may feel a little uncomfortable at first to have these conversations, but it beats the alternative.
“Kids get their needs met, and as a parent you want them to get their needs met at home, not out in the streets,” Dr. Foster said. “You want to be the one who helps guide and inform them as they mature, or else they will turn solely to their friends for information.”
You can also talk to yourchild’s pediatrician获取有用的想法、技巧和资源。他们有丰富的经验和知识来帮助孩子们处理与健康相关的问题。