Talking to your child about menstruation may be uncomfortable, but it doesn't have to be difficult. For girls, knowing the mechanics of how their reproductive systems work before menstruation begins can make the event itself less frightening. For boys, a clear understanding of how women conceive children can help them prevent unplanned pregnancies in the future. According to MayoClinic.com, most girls start their periods around the age of 12, but some start as young as age 8, making it important to talk to them about menstruation as early as they are able to comprehend it.
Step 1
Look for "teachable moments." Your child may find pads in your bathroom cabinet and ask what they are, or express curiosity about a tampon commercial on TV. Keeping the discussion age-appropriate and answer her questions as accurately as possible. She may well ask you about menstruation before you have to initiate the discussion.
Step 2
Maintain an ongoing discussion about the workings of the human body. You don't have to explain everything all at once. Children are often quite young when they ask where babies come from, particularly if their mothers become pregnant again. Build upon a child's knowledge of reproduction when you explain menstruation.
Step 3
Explain to your child that the menstrual cycle begins when the ovaries release an egg. Tell him about sperm, and explain that sperm enter a woman's uterus during sex. If the woman does not have sex, or if she or her partner use birth control, the sperm and egg do not meet, and the egg exits the body. Describe the uterine lining as food for a developing baby, and tell the child that if the egg leaves the body, there is no developing baby to require the food. The uterine lining then leaves the body in the form of a menstrual period, and the cycle starts again the next month.
Step 4
Show your daughter different types of menstrual protection. Tampons may seem frightening at first, so you may want to begin by introducing pads. If she is at the age where her period may begin, take her to the store and pick out pads for her. Having her own menstrual protection that she can keep to herself tells her you trust her and value her privacy. It gives her a sense of being grown up and may instill pride in and excitement for her first period.
Step 5
Tell your child that he can ask you questions anytime. Let him know that you will not judge him or make fun of him, and that being curious about the way the body works is natural. Keep the lines of communication open, and ask him occasionally what he knows about puberty. Check in with him regularly, without prying, to make sure he has the facts about menstruation and reproduction straight.
Things You'll Need
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