Puberty in Boys
Understanding This Developmental Milestone in Your Tween
Puberty is a complex time for tween boys. It helps if parents remember some signs of starting puberty to help your child deal with the physical and emotional changes.
Puberty, in a nutshell, is when chemical changes in the brain are brought on by hormonal changes in the body. Boys typically begin signs of puberty between the ages of 10 to 14. This is the time when your tween boy starts to evolve into an adult both physically and mentally. It starts out in a calm and peaceful wave that suddenly erupts into a major torrent, until after three or four years when it calms down again and is laid to rest. It is an exciting time to know that your child is developing normally, but at the same time is very disconcerting to the boy who has no idea what is happening to his body and thought process.
This article will give a glimpse of what puberty entails for boys, and may help give you some insight as to how to get your son through this important time in his life.
Physical Changes
The first sign that your son has started puberty will come with the physical changes that you see in him. These changes may include:
- Oily hair
- Weight gain
- Need to shower everyday
- Voice gets deeper
- Private parts start to develop and grow
- Plus others signs
More than likely, your son may be too shy to talk about the changes to his body and may go unsaid. That is why yearly checkups are very necessary. If he feels uncomfortable talking to you about these changes, he may feel better speaking to a professional (his pediatrician or family doctor).
Emotional & Psychological Changes
When entering puberty, your son may display some emotional and psychological changes that he would never think to relate to puberty. They may also be things that parents just write-off as a bad day, when really they are a cry for help. These may include:
- Fatigue
- Sadness, maybe even depression
- Irritability
- Anxiety
The good news is that this is the normal path for puberty, and many kids your child's age are experiencing the same things. The bad news is that boys do not necessarily understand why they are feeling this way. On top of that, they don't realize that other kids are feeling the same way because it is not something that comes up in normal conversation with friends. Try explaining to your son that he is not weird, and that just about every child he knows is or will be going through the same process.
Parental Success During Puberty
Knowledge: Knowing what to expect during puberty and being able to openly talk about it with your son is a definite strength. It will keep him out of the dark of wondering what in the world is happening to him. It will also provide the reassurance that he needs to know that this is a natural progression, and it means that he is developing appropriately.
Flexibility: Understanding your child's mood swings and periods of self-doubt is essential during puberty. Setting expectations and talking about ways to deal with the variety of emotions that come with puberty will help you better relate to your son's emotional instability, while your son will know approved ways of dealing with these emotions.
Reading Material: Let your son read about the subject of puberty for himself and be there to answer any more questions he may have!
The journey will not necessarily be a fun one, but the results will be rewarding!
