Puberty

😐 🛀 Puberty 😳 🪞

The challenge at hand requires us to confront it directly—no shortcuts. The silver lining is that progress doesn't happen overnight, affording parents the time to educate themselves, prepare, and support their children through the journey. Puberty is a challenging process for most children. Add the presence of Autism (ASD), developmental delays, and sensory issues.... and it can become particularly daunting. 😣🥺🥴

👉 All teens have different support needs, challenges, emotional maturity, and overall development. As parents, you are the one who knows your child best. Below are some common topics that may come up. Please do what fits best for your family.

👉 When faced with awkward or tricky questions from your autistic child, practice patience and honesty. It's perfectly fine to say, 'I don't know – let's work it out or look it up together.' If questions arise at inappropriate moments, having a standard family response like 'That's a good question, but let's talk about it when we get home' can be helpful. Make sure to revisit the question later.

👉 Additionally, reassure your child that physical and sexual changes are natural parts of growing up, fostering a positive self-image.

⁉️ When does puberty actually begin?

👉 Females ages 8-13 years old.

👉 Males 9-14 years old.

What to expect🙂

🌟 Body Changes: 🧔 ▫️Puberty signifies a significant surge in physical growth, including breast development, reproductive organ maturation, voice lowering in ouch, height, and weight changes. ▫️ Puberty triggers the growth of pubic and armpit hair, along with an increased tendency for acne in both sexes. These changes can be challenging for anyone, but many children on the autism spectrum may find these body changes particularly distressing. ▫️Addressing your child's questions and fostering a sense of self-discovery is vital. Education on these expected changes, emphasizing their normalcy in the growing-up process, proves beneficial. ▫️Using anatomical names for body parts can be helpful, especially if your child will participate in a school-based sex education program, preventing potential confusion with different labels.

🌟 Hormonal Changes: 📈 ▫️Puberty is driven by hormonal shifts, often accompanied by impulsive behavior, mood swings, irritability, and a range of emotions. ▫️ Managing these changes can be challenging for both child and parent. Offering additional tools for self-regulation is crucial, as children on the "Hormonal Rollercoaster" may struggle to identify the source of their feelings. ▫️ Communicating that it's okay to experience emotions without a clear cause can provide valuable reassurance.

🌟 Social Expectations/ Peer Pressure: 🙆 ▫️Puberty often brings about shifts in children's interactions. Some may start "hanging out," developing crushes, or even dating, regardless of your child's interest in these social settings. ▫️Your guidance remains crucial in helping them navigate expectations. Unfortunately, adolescents can be challenging, as peer dynamics can be unkind. ▫️ It's essential to equip your child with tools and maintain open communication, especially in the face of potential peer pressure.

🌟 Hygiene: 🚿🪥 ▫️Navigating showers, teeth, and hair care during puberty can be a challenge. ▫️ If your child has faced difficulties with bathing, it's likely that increased hygiene practices won't make it easier. ▫️ Consider addressing sensory issues with options like unscented deodorants, dry shampoo, sponge baths, and using a hygiene routine chart to provide structure and support. 🌟 Sexual Feelings: 😳🫣 ▫️Puberty brings about sexual urges, which is normal for individuals on the autism spectrum, but sensory issues can heighten anxiety. ▫️It's also typical for teens, including those with autism, to explore masturbation—a healthy developmental aspect. Some on the spectrum may struggle with social awareness regarding appropriateness. ▫️ Having an open conversation with your child about these aspects is important. If uncomfortable, consider seeking guidance from their therapist on how to initiate this discussion.

🌟 Setting Rules & Boundaries: ✋🏻🚫 ▫️ Consider establishing specific rules and boundaries in your home such as: • Knocking on bedroom doors before entering • Always wearing clothes in front of others • Undressing in the bedroom • Restricting masturbation to the bedroom • Using the toilet with the door shut. ▫️Maintain clarity and consistency in enforcing these rules.

🌟 Periods: 🚽 🤯 ▫️Menstruation can be a challenging and potentially distressing time for any girl, with factors like bleeding, physical discomfort, and emotional mood swings. ▫️ Early education and explaining what to anticipate can significantly reduce anxiety. Ensure you provide clear guidance on hygiene requirements and the use of menstrual products to support them during this period. 📌

Explaining Periods and Sanitary Products: 🩸

🔻 Empower your child by familiarizing them with sanitary pads, period-proof underpants, tampons, and menstrual cups, explaining how each looks and how to use them. As a parent, you know your child best, enabling you to decide which option—whether it's period-proof underwear, pads, tampons, or a menstrual cup—would be most suitable for them.

🔻 Consider going to the supermarket together to choose these items or exploring them online. 🔻 Designate a specific spot to store sanitary products, ensuring your child is well-prepared in the event of starting their period. Having a dedicated and easily accessible location can offer comfort and practicality during these moments.

🔻 Establishing a visual schedule outlining the steps for changing period-proof underwear, pads, or tampons can be useful. Consider marking your child's underwear to indicate where a sanitary pad should be placed. As your child starts menstruating, teach them to use a calendar or app to plan for their menstrual cycle, promoting organization and readiness.

🔻 Assist your child in handling mood changes and emotional symptoms by informing them that during their period, they might: - Feel irritable - Have trouble concentrating - Experience feelings of depression - Feel sleepy. Consider using pictures to illustrate these emotions, providing a visual aid for better understanding.

📌 Changing body on Boys: 💁‍♂️🧔‍♂️

🔹 During puberty in boys, various changes occur, including: - Voice changes - Wet dreams - Enlargement of testicles and penis - Acne - Muscle growth - Mood swings

🔹 As your child's hormones change, increased sweating may lead to a stronger odor, necessitating more frequent washing.

🔹 Be mindful of language, especially if your child takes things literally. For instance, instead of saying your child's voice is 'breaking,' you can reassure them by explaining that their voice is changing and becoming deeper, which is a normal part of growing up. Comparing it to their father's or older brother's voice can serve as a helpful example.

🔹 Prepare boys for the experience of semen by explaining erections and wet dreams before they occur. Assure your child that these occurrences are normal parts of growing up, just like the other changes they're noticing, such as increased hair. This context can help them better understand and navigate these aspects of puberty.

🌟 Key messages for parents and carers:

🔑 - Understand that your child will go through puberty, and changes related to their gender and sexuality are inevitable.

- Start considering puberty and how you'll manage the changes as early as possible.

- Reflect on your family's beliefs and expectations regarding puberty, ensuring they align with your child's needs and abilities.

- Adopt a matter-of-fact and neutral approach since your child might not pick up on social cues from peers.

- Be a reliable source of information for your child about appropriate behavior.

- Establish hygiene rules early on.

- Introduce the concept of public and private regarding spaces, body parts, and behavior.

⭐️ Below are some resource links. Please feel free to share in the comments any tips that helped you and your child navigate puberty‼️

https://tacanow.org/family-resources/puberty/ 

https://www.myautism.org/informational-kits/the-official-puberty-guide https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/puberty.html

Updated November 24, 2023