Is Your Teen An Early Bloomer? What You Need To Know

Today, fewer schools have a dedicated sex education programme to help teenagers understand the changes that their bodies are going through. In fact, those that do don’t always cover other aspects to this phase such as body development and sexuality. A lot of girls use the internet now to get information about periods and changing bodies, but this is such an impersonal way to learn about something so important and could be providing wrong information in the case of some sites. However, there is some fantastic information out there that can help to boost the confidence and self esteem of young girls who may be having a hard time navigating hormones and puberty. But for young girls who are blooming earlier than their peers, this can be an especially difficult time. They may feel extremely self conscious and fearful of bullying about their new body, and this is a vital time when they’ll need all the information they can get in terms of understanding that these changes are perfectly normal. Everyone goes through the scary puberty stage, but we all get through it and come out unscathed on the other side – it’s simply part of growing up, no matter when it begins for your child.

In today’s hyper-sexualised culture, ‘blooming’ seems like the last thing that’s happening. It seems like all girls are being sexualised far too early and being forced to change what’s natural to them in order to fit the media’s idea of ‘normal’. It no doubt feels as though your child is coming into this phase too early, particularly if they are now going through puberty too, but it’s perfectly natural to feel anxiety during this stage. Both mums and daughters will be worried about the changes coming into play. Earlier and earlier puberty in teens these days means this issue is in the press a lot – we always seem to be hearing about the fact that kids are growing up too fast, both emotionally and physically. In the United States, for example, the average age for a girl to get her period is now around 12.5 years old. The processes that occur in the body are also happening earlier, such as the breast bud development, with many girls developing breasts as early as elementary school. The culture of periods being bad and shameful makes many girls anxious, but this is something to reassure early bloomers about so that they feel able to tackle the changes about to take place.

 

No matter when you or your daughter would like it to happen though, your child’s body will develop when it is ready. Nurturing encouragement is vital at this stage, as is providing as much information as your daughter needs. As with anyone going through puberty, whatever age it happens, a nutritious diet, plenty of sleep and exercise are all necessary for a healthy body. But it’s not all about the physical side – you need to ensure that they are emotionally healthy too, and this means making sure they have an open communication with you and people they trust. Many teens, and especially children developing early, feel isolated and self conscious, but this is a prime time for parents to step in and ensure that they nurture their children. It may be a frightening time for both mother and daughter, but it’s nothing out of the ordinary, and nothing that can’t be tackled with an open relationship between you both.

Categories: body, Early, emotions, girls, Information, puberty, young girls

Is Your Teen An Early Bloomer? What You Need To Know

Today, fewer schools have a dedicated sex education programme to help teenagers understand the changes that their bodies are going through. In fact, those that do don’t always cover other aspects to this phase such as body development and sexuality. A lot of girls use the internet now to get information about periods and changing bodies, but this is such an impersonal way to learn about something so important and could be providing wrong information in the case of some sites. However, there is some fantastic information out there that can help to boost the confidence and self esteem of young girls who may be having a hard time navigating hormones and puberty. But for young girls who are blooming earlier than their peers, this can be an especially difficult time. They may feel extremely self conscious and fearful of bullying about their new body, and this is a vital time when they’ll need all the information they can get in terms of understanding that these changes are perfectly normal. Everyone goes through the scary puberty stage, but we all get through it and come out unscathed on the other side – it’s simply part of growing up, no matter when it begins for your child.

In today’s hyper-sexualised culture, ‘blooming’ seems like the last thing that’s happening. It seems like all girls are being sexualised far too early and being forced to change what’s natural to them in order to fit the media’s idea of ‘normal’. It no doubt feels as though your child is coming into this phase too early, particularly if they are now going through puberty too, but it’s perfectly natural to feel anxiety during this stage. Both mums and daughters will be worried about the changes coming into play. Earlier and earlier puberty in teens these days means this issue is in the press a lot – we always seem to be hearing about the fact that kids are growing up too fast, both emotionally and physically. In the United States, for example, the average age for a girl to get her period is now around 12.5 years old. The processes that occur in the body are also happening earlier, such as the breast bud development, with many girls developing breasts as early as elementary school. The culture of periods being bad and shameful makes many girls anxious, but this is something to reassure early bloomers about so that they feel able to tackle the changes about to take place.

 

No matter when you or your daughter would like it to happen though, your child’s body will develop when it is ready. Nurturing encouragement is vital at this stage, as is providing as much information as your daughter needs. As with anyone going through puberty, whatever age it happens, a nutritious diet, plenty of sleep and exercise are all necessary for a healthy body. But it’s not all about the physical side – you need to ensure that they are emotionally healthy too, and this means making sure they have an open communication with you and people they trust. Many teens, and especially children developing early, feel isolated and self conscious, but this is a prime time for parents to step in and ensure that they nurture their children. It may be a frightening time for both mother and daughter, but it’s nothing out of the ordinary, and nothing that can’t be tackled with an open relationship between you both.

Categories: body, Early, emotions, girls, Information, puberty, young girls

What Are the Risks of Sex During Early Pregnancy?

Many women are concerned about having any kind of sexual intimacy during their pregnancy, as they fear that it may harm the wellness and wellbeing of their unborn baby. Other women have completely the opposite reaction, and want to have more sex with their partner as they feel emotionally connected to them, or the hormones make them feel in the mood.

 

Sometimes the symptoms of early pregnancy can also reduce your desire for sex. These symptoms can include extreme tiredness and morning sickness, and these both make the idea of sex really off-putting.

 

Many women are also afraid that penetrative sex could cause them to have a miscarriage, but experts all agree that this is not a cause of miscarriage. If you do suffer from a miscarriage, you do not need to worry that having sex caused it. Orgasms also cannot cause miscarriages.

 

Your partner may also be concerned about having sex. In early pregnancy they fear disturbing the developing foetus and in later pregnancy they worry they may bump against the baby during sex. This worry is completely unfounded, as no man has a penis either long enough or capable of penetrating a sealed cervix! The baby is well cushioned inside the uterus.

 

Sex can also be physically uncomfortable during pregnancy due to hormonal changes in the body. Some women have tender breasts and any contact with them can be painful. Other women find that their cervix and vagina can be swollen, uncomfortable or a little dry.

 

If you discover that you are pregnant and feel anxious about sex, give yourself a little time to digest the news. You may find that when you have had time to think about it, you feel more inclined to resume sexual relations.

Categories: Early, early pregnancy, feel, nbsp, pregnancy, risk, sex pregnancy, Women

How Can You Tackle Obesity in Children?

The crisis of childhood obesity has quadrupled over the past 25 years and, in the UK, they’ve trebled since the 80s. Two-thirds of children in the UK will be over the healthy weight range by 2050, according to a report carried out in 2007. But with the right support it is possible to combat the problem early so that children can grow up to be as healthy and fit as possible. Many people are now classified as overweight or obese, but this brings with it far more problems than simply affecting the aesthetics of a person – it can lead to heart problems, certain cancers and stroke, as well as breathing problems and joint difficulties due to the excess strain on the lungs and bones. It also affects our mental health, affecting confidence, self-esteem and can even lead to depression. While genetics play a part, anyone can become overweight – it’s all down to how much your eat, what you’re eating, and how much exercise you do. We’re far more sedentary than we once were, in addition to eating an increasingly unhealthy diet, and this all contributes to those extra pounds which soon mount up to become a serious health risk. When children come under fire, this can be a serious problem – they’ll grow up already prone to diseases and health concerns, which will be harder to combat in adult life.

 

One of the first signs of a child becoming obese is when they can no longer fit into children’s clothes, and have to start wearing clothes designed for adults. However, with more manufacturers making clothes to accommodate the increasing number of children who are overweight, this can mask the issue. The best way to check if your child is in the danger zone is to check their BMI – this will give an accurate view of the extent of the issue. Once your child is slightly older, you may want to start keeping a check on their weight and height so that this figure can be monitored and dealt with if it begins to rise too high. It’s important to catch the condition early, as studies show that between 40 and 70 percent of obese children will grow up to be obese in adulthood. If your timing is right, you’ll be able to solve the problem early and your child will be able to enjoy a healthy childhood at a normal weight. Start from birth and get your baby weighed regularly by a doctor or nurse (around six times in their first year) and check their growth speed. Don’t move on to solid foods too early as otherwise they will become accustomed to the taste of this food too early on. It’s advised that you don’t wean until six months, or change on to pureed food at around four months. It also helps to talk to your kids when they’re a little older to help them become educated about foods. Communication with kids is key, so if you can get them to open up about why they feel the need to overeat, this can be half of the battle already won.

 

Portion sizes are a problem for many people, and can lead to overeating without you even realising it. Try to cut your portions down a little and you’ll notice that you’ll lose weight and stay full too. A good guide is to use their hand as a guide for portions – the size of their fist should be the maximum you give of each food item. Making sure that your child stays active is also helpful, as their diet will only account for part of the problem. It can be anything from a kick-about in the park on a Saturday morning, walking to school instead of driving, or getting them to take part in an evening class such as dance or basketball where they can socialise with friends and keep fit too.

Categories: check, Child, Children, Early, obesity, problem, problem early, Tips, weight