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| Main > School Age > Parenting Tips > School Age Tips
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What are the ... first signs of puberty?
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| Puberty is a process that begins at different times in different children, but once puberty starts, it should follow a regular set of stages. In girls, puberty usually begins between the ages of eight and thirteen, with an average age of ten years. The first sign of puberty in girls is breast budding and then growth of pubic hair. Breast budding is followed a year later my a growth spurt. Menarche, or your child's first period, usually occurs about two years after puberty begins. Remember that periods may be irregular during the first few years after menarche. The stages of puberty progress as your child gets older and include continued breast enlargement and pubic hair growth.
Boys usually begin puberty the age of eleven, but it may occur at an age as early as nine or as late as fourteen. The first sign that a boy is entering puberty is enlargement of the testis. This is followed by stages which include continued enlargement of the testis and penis and pubic hair growth. Boys also go through a growth spurt about two years after puberty begins.
You should talk to your child about the changes that their bodies are going to go through before they start to go through puberty so that they are not surprised by these changes. Your child should understand that these changes are normal.
See our guide to puberty for more information.
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