The truth is, pre-teens and teens want information and education about sex and other topics they find embarrassing, but they do not want to ask.  Sometimes they make it painful for us to discuss it by acting belligerent or immature, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t keep broaching these important topics.

Telling your son about periods, what they are, and why girls have them can be a tricky subject to tackle. One that most of us want to shy away from, but there are several advantages to “cluing them in” to what is happening.

How, what, and when are other important points to the big discussion. When you are ready to talk about puberty with your son you may want to go ahead and share the females side of it at the same time.

 

Talking to pre-teen boys about periods can be a bit tricky, but it’s important to do so in order to help them understand and be more empathetic towards the women and girls in their lives.

Here are some tips on approaching the conversation

WHY should I even discuss this with my son?

1. They won’t feel so alone with the changes happening to their bodies.
2. To help them understand what girls are going through.
3. It makes it less of a taboo subject and will normalize it for them.
4. When they see it as a biological process, they are less inclined to see it as joking subject matter.
5. Later in life, it will help them be more understanding of women during their cycle.
6. If you have boys in your house, the subject will come up anyway, so it’s better they get it from you.

So now that we know why it is beneficial to talk to our sons about girls’ periods, let’s talk about HOW.

1. Be direct and honest- If you want your kids to trust you with deep questions, don’t beat around the bush or tell half-truths about the facts. Just lay out the truth in plain and simple terms.
2. Compare and contrast- Laying out the changes a girl goes through alongside of those that a boy goes through during puberty demonstrates how they work together towards an end purpose.
3. Be willing to dig deep- Be prepared to answer the harder questions that may spring from this frank talk. Even if that means saying let me get back to you, I’m not sure or let me look it up.
4. Use resources- Don’t be afraid to share pictures from a book on puberty or a website that you have checked out first to illustrate the things you are talking about.

Related: How to teach your pre-teen daughter about puberty

WHAT topics should you cover when it comes to menstruation?

1. Explain that women bleed for several days each month and that it lasts throughout most of their adult years. From the onset of puberty until she is much older.
2. Tell them the reason that she bleeds is that her uterus was thickening in preparation for a fertilized egg. When it doesn’t happen, it sheds the lining it no longer needs.
3. Share that before, during, and even sometimes after it brings things like irritability, cramps, headaches, bloating, and other symptoms.
4.  Ensure they know it is not something weird or something to be made fun of. And to never make a girl feel bad about something her body cannot control.
5. Discuss pads and tampons and that they are used to absorb the blood. Eventually, all boys run into a box under the sink or wrapped ones tossed in the trash. Don’t let it be a horrifying mystery.
6. Reiterate that it is a normal and natural function of the female body.

WHEN to think about telling your son about periods?

When you have the talk with your son about puberty and the changes that will or are happening to his body it’s a good time to go ahead and cover both at the same time. Somewhere between 9-12 is a good age.

Remember, telling your son about periods  can be uncomfortable, but it’s an important part of educating them about the realities of female biology and fostering empathy and understanding toward the females in their life

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