When do you tell your daughters about the period.

amother

Orange

Mon, Oct 28 2024, 10:30 am

Where does 9.5 belong? I got my period before I was 11 and want to make sure my dds know far enough in advance in case they also get it young. I also think it's not just one conversation, so I want to ensure we can have multiple conversations.

amother

Midnight

Mon, Oct 28 2024, 10:59 am

I teach 4th grade. My co-teacher always makes sure to have pads etc in the classroom in case of emergency. As far as I know it's never happened, but we have definitely taught girls who were developed enough physically and could have had their period early.

When mothers ask me when they should talk to their girls I always advise 4th or early 5th grade. You know your daughter best in terms of when she can handle hearing about it in a mature way, but there may be other girls who are excited to share the news and you can't undo your daughter hearing about it in a way that isn't how you would have presented it.

During one of my early years teaching this age, a mother called me very upset because her daughter had a sleepover with a friend who told her everything before she thought it was appropriate to talk to her daughter about it. Just something to keep in mind.

amother

↑ Cream

Mon, Oct 28 2024, 12:38 pm

amother Heather wrote:

I don't think anyone should assume, though, that their next child knows from their sisters. It's the Mom's job, not the sister's, to educate her daughters.
I'll just come out and say it, then - I'm that down-in-the-line daughter, and I got my education from my older sisters. I wish my mother would have told me. I never asked her anything, didn't discuss things with her as a Kallah, etc....and I think I lost out because of it. I wish I had had more of a mother, though I do have two fabulous older sisters.

I agree with you. What I meant was that once the older ones started, it wasn't a taboo topic. Periods, cramps and pads were a very natural part of our lives and the younger ones were aware of it - they didn't need that initial conversation that explained absolutely everything from scratch because they were already aware from observing and asking questions along the way. Like I said, my younger daughters were always able to discuss anything with me and they did.
I feel that I did something right because all my girls (now grown) developed healthy mindsets regarding puberty and later on reproduction.

Sewsew_mom

Mon, Oct 28 2024, 12:51 pm

I thought I would tell my daughter at 9. But she was such a baby I waited until she was 10. She's 11.5 now and probably has alot more time until her period. But you need to know your daughter.
Ive also had numerous discussions with her because she seemed to tune out or get uninterested when I first told her.