Boys become men and girls become women. . . Be sensitive and affirming as your teen's body changes. Children need parents who will openly explain and discuss what is happening to their bodies. We live in a world that constantly sets unrealistic standards regarding physical beauty and only a handful make the grade. Most of these changes occur during the junior high years, when acceptance by others is of the utmost importance and when peers tend to be most cruel and insensitive.
Life can be miserable for the boy or girl who grows too fast or too slow.
For example, late maturing boys are often at a disadvantage when side by side with their peers. Some studies show that these late-bloomers tend to be more aggressive, irresponsible, and dependent than others their age. A loving and sensitive parent can serve as a buffer in the midst of pressure that could scar a kid's self-image for life. Remember, whether you choose to talk about these changes or not, your kids will be discussing them with their friends. Offer your teen a godly perspective on the changes that are taking place.