Quickly The preteen and early teen years are times of many changes-physical, emotional and social. Young people during this transition time often feel uncomfortable with all the changes and worry about their rapidly growing bodies. Those who have an early growth spurt may feel large, clumsy and unattractive while kids who start their growth spurt late may feel that they are never going to catch up with their friends. A child who knows what changes to expect will usually find it much easier to deal with the changes as they occur. You'll find information on the back of this card to help your preteen adjust to his or her changing body.
Girls usually start to mature earlier than boys.
Changes in the body affect feelings and moods. It can be especially helpful to your son or daughter to talk about some of the feelings and concerns you may have had at their age. Many excellent resources are available to help parents explain human physical development to their children. Ask for the Living with Your Teenager series at your county ISU Extension office.