Table of Contents
Ready, Set, Grow!
A WHATS HAPPENING TO MY BODY? BOOK FOR YOUNGER GIRLS
On Your Mark, Get Set, Grow!
A WHATS HAPPENING TO MY BODY? BOOK FOR YOUNGER BOYS
My Feelings, My Self for Girls
AND AREA MADARAS
The Whats Happening to My Body? Book for Girls
WITH AREA MADARAS
The Whats Happening to My Body? Book for Boys
WITH AREA MADARAS
My Body, My Self for Boys
AND AREA MADARAS
Lynda Madaras Talks to Teens About AIDS: An Essential Guide
for Parents, Teachers, and Young People
Womancare: A Gynecological Guide to Your Body
WITH JANE PATTERSON, M.D.
Woman Doctor: The Education of Jane Patterson, M.D.
WITH JANE PATTERSON, M.D.
Great Expectations
WITH LEIGH ADAMS
The Alphabet Connection
WITH PAM PALEWICZ-ROUSSEAU
Childs Play
Wed like to thank three women who helped us put this book together
DOE COOVER,the worlds greatest literary agent,
EARTHA SEWELL,a wonderful sexuality educator,
andJILL GANON,a terrific writer
And wed like to dedicate this book to them and their children
MOLLY, TOM, SETH, AND MILES
Hi, Im Lynda Madaras and Im Area Madaras.
Were the mother-and-daughter team who put this book together (with a lot of help from our friends). We have also written another book called The Whats Happening to My Body? Book for Girls that explains the physical and emotional changes a girl goes through during her preteen and teen years, as her body changes from a childs to a womans body. This time of changing is known as puberty, and the book explains how and why puberty happens and answers the many questions that have come up in Lyndas sex education classes over the years.
This book is a companion to our other book, though you dont need The Whats Happening to My Body? Book to use this one. This book covers many of the same topics covered in that book, though not in as much detail. The big difference between the two books is that this is an interactive book, with exercises, quizzes, and other activities that will help you learn about the changes that take place in your body during puberty.
Like The Whats Happening to My Body? Book, this book owes a great deal to the many girls and boys who have been students in Lyndas classes at Sequoyah School over the years and to the families who have attended our puberty and sexuality workshops. Much of the material in this book was developed and refined with their help. Indeed, without their kind patience when exercises and activities didnt work out as planned and their enthusiasm when they did, this book would not have been written.
We hope that you (and the friends and family members youll recruit for some of the activities) enjoy the activities and exercises in the book and that it will answer some of the questions youll have as you enter this new stage of your life.
LYNDA MADARAS
AND AREA MADARAS
Youre going through puberty! During the preteen and teen years, girls go through a series of physical and emotional changes as their bodies develop from childrens bodies into womens bodies. This time of changing is called puberty.
This book is about you and the changes that take place in your body during your puberty years. It explains how, when, and why puberty happens and is filled with quizzes, exercises, and other activities for you to do. Throughout the book, youll be asked to record your thoughts and feelings and to write about whats happening to you. In fact, before youre through, this book will not only be about you, it will be by you as well!
We hope that youll have fun with the book, that youll learn a thing or two, and that youll come back to it from time to time as you move through puberty. We hope, too, that youll hang on to the book, and that if you one day have a daughter or another special young woman in your life, youll give her this special puberty book written by and about you!
P.S. If this book is yours, youre free to write in it, doodle on it, or scribble all over it. But if its a library book, youll need to do the exercises and writing on separate sheets of paper or in a notebook.
SINCE THIS BOOK IS ALL ABOUT YOU, LETS START WITH YOU:
I am _______ years and ______ months old.
I am ______ feet and ______ inches tall.
I weigh ______ pounds.
I go to school at ______.
I am in the _______ grade.
I live with ________.
When Im alone I like to ______.
When Im with my friends we like to ______.
My best friend and I talk about ______.
An adult I can really talk to is ________.
One thing I really like about myself is ________.
PUBERTY CHANGES
Growth spurt causes rapid increase in heightyou grow taller at a faster rate than ever before.
Oil glands in scalp become more activeyour hair may be oily, and you may need to wash it more often.
Nipples and surrounding skin get darker in color.
Breasts enlargethey may be tender or sore.
Hips broadenyour waist seems smaller in comparison.
Curly pubic hairs grow on the vulva (the area between your legs).
Hair on legs also may increase and may be darker in color.
Growth spurt affects feet first, causing rapid growth. You may find that you outgrow your shoes before theyre hardly worn.
Skin produces more oilsyou may develop pimples.
Hair grows under arms.
Underarm perspiration (sweat) glands are more activeyou develop an adult body odor.
Hair on arms may increase and may be darker in color.
During puberty, you may notice an increase in vaginal discharge, and you will also have your first menstrual period. To find out more about these changes, turn to the next page.
I have noticed a clear and also a milky white discharge from my vagina. Could you tell me what this means? Im wondering if this is normal.
During puberty, you may start to have a small amount of a clear milky white fluid, or discharge, from the walls of the vagina that may leave a slight yellowish stain on your underpants as it dries. This fluid is called vaginal discharge, and it is completely normal, another sign that your body is maturing.
Vaginal discharge helps to keep your vagina clean and healthy. As well explain in Part 5, the discharge is made up of fluids and cells shed from the walls of the vagina. Just as the skin on the surface of our bodies is constantly shedding old cells, the skin of the vagina also sheds cells. The body makes fluids to wash away these cells and cleanse the vagina. As you go through puberty, the shedding of old cells from the vaginal walls speeds up. More fluid is made, and a girl may notice more discharge from her vaginal opening.
