The onset of menstruation, often called a period, tends to be an experience that many women remember vividly. A lack of preparation and knowledge about the first monthly blood flow might result in negative memories of this event. Girls typically get their first period between the ages of 8 and 16, with most beginning to menstruate at the age of 12, according to the Mayo Clinic. Most experts recommend you teach your daughter about menstruation before her first period so you can address her questions and concerns as well as to help her avoid any shock or embarrassment.
Helpful Tips
Rather than one long talk about menstruation, you might find your preteen more receptive if you break it up into several small mini-sessions. Optimally, reproduction and questions about her body will have been discussed frequently since she was a toddler with a bit more information included each year as she grew older. If possible, girls might prefer to have this conversation with their mother or a female family member, but dads can certainly be part of the process as well. Since preteens often gain a lot of their knowledge from their peers, open the conversations with questions about what she already knows about puberty and menstruation. Correct any misinformation you might encounter. Emphasize the fact that first menstruation can occur anytime between the ages of 8 and 16; it can be frustrating to be first in a group to menstruate or to feel left behind if most of her peers have already had their first period.
In basic and concrete language, explain what she should expect when her period arrives. Avoid vague euphemisms about her "passage to womanhood" and clarify nicknames for menstruation such as "Aunt Flo." Tell her get rid of used pads, what to do if her period starts while she is at school, avoid leaks and wash out stains and take care of her clothing if one occurs. Demonstrate how different products work by unwrapping them and conducting experiments with water to see how much liquid a tampon, pad, or pantyliner holds. This can reassure your daughter as to the efficacy of these products. Emphasize the importance of changing pads or tampons frequently and maintaining cleanliness and good hygiene. Create a comfort kit for your daughter that contains a pad/liner/tampon, a change of clothing, and a dose of ibuprofen if your child's school allows over-the-counter medications and stock it in a small cosmetics bag they can store inside their locker or backpack.
Make sure you remain positive about menstruation since these attitudes will transfer to your daughter. Highlight how important a step menstruation is in growing up and its importance in the reproductive cycle. Show that you can be trusted to impart accurate and helpful advice about sexual health so that your daughter realizes she can talk to you about any type of sex or birth control questions.
Tips for Dads
Even if mom handles the bulk of the menstruation preparedness, dad should read up on the subject and be prepared to accurately answer any questions or concerns his daughter might have. Single dads who plan on handling the discussion themselves might want to enlist a female back-up in case their daughter wants another woman's advice or insight. Make sure you never crack jokes about your daughter's menstruation and respect both the menstruation process and your daughter's privacy.
Tags: your daughter, about menstruation, first period, between ages, Make sure, questions about, questions concerns