Dear Diane,
Is it true that it is weight and not age that will kick-start puberty in girls? My niece is developing very rapidly at the age of 10 and her doctor advised that the girl’s periods looked set to start sooner rather than later. When I was young none of us started menstruating until we were about 13 and I can remember a couple of classmates who were even later. It depresses me to think of a 10-year-old having to handle hormonal feelings, not to mention all the mess and bother around periods. Do you think if my sister somehow got her daughter to lose weight it might hold off “the curse”?
Christine, by email
Dear Christine,
Studies show that girls from societies with good nutrition begin puberty earlier, and 10 years of age is no longer considered particularly young. Although she may appear to us to be horrifyingly young to be dealing with bras and periods, you may be able to draw some comfort from the fact that your niece will probably not be the only one in her class. The best anyone can do for a child who reaches puberty early is to be as matter of fact as possible; support her feelings as her hormone levels go up and down; make sure she knows all she needs to about body changes, including how to handle personal hygiene (showering and deodorants); and make sure that both home and school have adequate facilities and privacy for her to handle her periods. Although girls who are very muscular and lean from sports participation tend to have a delayed puberty, any dieting now for your niece would not postpone her puberty and would only lead to greater self-consciousness and less body satisfaction. But above all, she needs to know that the adult women around her are comfortable with their own femininity and are proud to welcome her as a beautiful emerging young woman.
Diane Levy provides expert answers to your parenting queries. Send your questions to: [[email protected]](mailto: [email protected]) Diane’s parenting books are available in book shops.
