Your daughter's first bra or your son's first shaving kit can be exciting, as long as both you and your children know what to expect as their bodies change from that of a child into that of a woman or man, MayoClinic.com and KidsHealth says. Not all kids will be gung ho about these hormone changes of puberty, but at least they will be prepared if you discuss the changes in advance.
Ages
Hormone production starts at slightly different ages for different kids, KidsHealth notes, but it does follow a general range. The general range for boys is between the ages of 10 and 16, while girls hit puberty between 8 and 13. Some children hit puberty earlier, MayoClinic.com says, in a condition called precocious puberty.
Boy Changes
Larger testicles and pubic hair are the first hormonal changes many boys notice, KidsHealth says. Coarse, dark hair starts off in the genital area and then grows in the underarms and face. Boys become taller and ganglier, especially with a growth spurt in their hands, feet, arms and legs. About half of the boys going through puberty also temporarily grow a small amount of breast tissue, called gynecomastia, which results in a tender areas and swelling around the nipples and usually goes away in about six months. Their voices crack as they become deeper.
Girl Changes
Breast development and pubic hair kick off puberty for girls, KidsHealth states. Breast development usually begins with small bumps, called buds, beneath the nipples that continue to mature over the next 12 to 24 months. Pubic hair sprouts in the genital area and then under the arms. The growth spurt in girls rounds them out, with increased fat around the hips, thighs and chest and larger hands, feet, arms and legs. Menstruation usually starts between ages 9 and 16.
The Process
Puberty begins in the brain before signs show up on the body, MayoClinic.com says, with a process called the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. The brain kicks off the process when its hypothalamus creates a gonadotropin-releasing hormone. This substance, in turn, makes the brain's pituitary gland churn out two more hormones, luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone. These two hormones then spur the creation of sex hormones into gear, namely the female estrogen and male testosterone. Physical changes become apparent only after the sex hormone production begins.
Considerations
Hormonal changes come with a few more elements, both KidsHealth and MayoClinic.com note. Acne often crops up due to the increased production of sebum, which clogs skin pores. Children going through puberty also start wearing deodorant to combat the newly developed body odor and eventually shaving to combat the new hair sprouting on legs, underarms and faces. Kids are also likely to have questions and concerns about the process. Talk to them honestly, openly and, if possible, in advance of the changes so they know what to expect.
