Conversations to Have with an Adult: Puberty, Emotions and more! Conversations to Have with an Adult: Puberty, Emotions and more! Add video to playlist Create Playlist 1 Add Playlist basics Add Playlist AIMS Health- Puberty Add Playlist AIMS Health- Sex & SEXUALITY Add Playlist Puberty Add Playlist AIMS Health- Bullying Add Playlist Kendall Add Playlist Stargirl Add Playlist Healthy Relationships Add Playlist FLASH Gender Roles Add Playlist FLASH STDs Add Playlist 7th grade Add Playlist puberty Add Playlist Emotional Changes in Puberty Add Playlist Social changes of puberty Add Playlist Physical Changes in Puberty 7th Grade Add Playlist health Add Playlist Growing up Add Playlist Playlist Remove Playlist The Lains Add Playlist HIV Awareness Add Playlist Young Animator samples for Nadav Add Playlist Lexi Add Playlist Billy Add Playlist Social stories Add Playlist Stds Add Playlist Stds Add Playlist Health – Relationships & Reproduction Unit Add Playlist greyson 6th grade Add Playlist Claire Add Playlist Health 6th Grade Add Playlist Liz Add Playlist Playlist for HLTH 575 Add Playlist Parent tips Add Playlist Sex Add Playlist Safety Add Playlist Sexual Assault Add Playlist Sexual Orientation Add Playlist Puberty Add Playlist Hammy Add Playlist Helpful For Friend Add Playlist Girls Add Playlist Boys Add Playlist Lavinia Add Playlist Lavinia Add Playlist Sexual Orientation Add Playlist Puberty Part 2 Add Playlist Year 6 Health Education Add Playlist Middle School Health Add Playlist first Add Playlist Kodi 7 Add Playlist Hope and Light Senior phase Add Playlist Korean Videos Add Playlist Cole Add Playlist Playlist 1 Remove Playlist Counseling Add Playlist Relationships and Respect Add Playlist Being a good friend Add Playlist Bodies Add Playlist Feelings Add Playlist Kian puberty Add Playlist For Sienna Add Playlist Puberty and Sex Ed Add Playlist conoscere Add Playlist RISE Add Playlist RISE Add Playlist Girl Stuff Add Playlist puberty Add Playlist Parent Summint Add Playlist puberty 1 Add Playlist Stinkybutt Add Playlist street smart & sex ed Remove Playlist Bright’s Playlist Add Playlist Illnesses Add Playlist Random Add Playlist LC Talk Add Playlist 9th grade Health Remove Playlist 8th grade Health Remove Playlist Menstruation Add Playlist Emma Add Playlist Pubirty Add Playlist Elijah 101 Add Playlist First Add Playlist First Add Playlist Health Education Add Playlist SAS Add Playlist Bella Add Playlist Puberty lesson 1 Add Playlist Missmisplacement U Need 2 Know Watchlist Add Playlist Missmisplacement U Need 2 Know Watchlist Add Playlist Missmisplacement U Need 2 Know Watchlist Add Playlist Teacher picks Add Playlist Emalea’s Playlist Add Playlist August 2018 Add Playlist Youth Friendly Videos Add Playlist Camille Add Playlist so easy to sex-ed Add Playlist Young Child Discussions Add Playlist Digital Safety Add Playlist Heading to Middle School… Add Playlist Conversations to Have with an Adult: Puberty, Emotions and more! | Friendship Love Youth Sometimes it can be awkward to ask a parent or trusted adult questions about puberty and sex. As uncomfortable as it may feel, remember that they were once your age and went through the same things you are going through. A parent or adult you trust can provide the support you deserve as you go through puberty. That’s why it is important for you to have at least one adult you trust and can talk with. Choose someone you think is a good listener and won’t be judgmental. Choose someone who will help you figure out what to do in a tough spot or help you process your feelings and thoughts. Look for someone you admire—someone you think you might like to grow up to be like one day. Ask yourself, Do I respect this person? Do I trust them? Will they take me seriously? Will they respect me and not judge me? Trusted adults can be your parents, grandparents, other relatives, caregivers, teachers or coaches. Even your friends’ parents can provide advice, answer difficult questions, share their values and/or faith traditions and help you as you grow into an adult. Regardless of who a trusted adult is to you, what matters is that this person provide the support you need and deserve. FAQs I am so embarrassed to talk with my parents about this stuff. What can I do? It is totally normal to feel embarrassed to talk about these topics with your parents, especially if your family has never talked about puberty and growing up. However, it is important to remember that adults were your age at one point in their lives, and they have a lot of experience with these topics. You may be surprised how open and willing they are to talk. If you still don’t feel like you can talk to a parent, you can identify another adult that you trust to have these conversations with. This might be another relative, a teacher, a coach, a guidance counselor or even a friend’s parent. My mom wants to talk about this stuff with me all the time, and I am just so embarrassed. What can I do? It is totally normal to feel embarrassed to talk about these topics with your parents. Most likely, your mom just wants to show you that she supports you and that you can talk to her if you have questions. If you feel like she is being too pushy or overbearing, just let her know that you aren’t ready to talk about these topics right now, but if and when you are ready, you understand that she is there for you. RELATED VIDEOS How to Be a Good Listener Close ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Sex, Etc. KidsHealth Parents Adolescence can be an exciting and challenging time when both young people’s bodies and minds are going through lots of changes. Having at least one trusted adult they can talk to about sensitive topics, such as puberty, their feelings and growing up, really helps. Trusted adults can be parents, grandparents, other relatives, caregivers, teachers or coaches. Even a young person’s friends’ parents can provide advice, answer difficult questions, share their values and/or faith traditions. Regardless of who a trusted adult is, what matters is that this person provide the support a young person needs and deserves. This is especially true for young people facing additional physical, emotional or social challenges. Young people can feel awkward and nervous about talking with adults, especially if they know adults are going to judge or lecture them. While an adult may want to do all of the talking and tell a young person how to feel and what to think, this is a sure way to have a young person withdraw. An adult who listens to what young people have to say and respects their experiences and perspectives will earn their trust. If a young person does not feel judged, that young person is more likely to be honest with an adult and seek out help if they get into trouble, feel uncomfortable at a party or need help handling a tough situation. Effective communication is the foundation of healthy relationships, and this is true for relationships between young people and their parents, caregivers or other trusted adults. As a parent or trusted adult, you can help your child or another young person practice good communication skills by demonstrating healthy communication skills in your conversations with them and being a supportive listener when a young person needs help. The easiest way to start conversations about communication is to talk about it as it comes up in everyday life, like while watching a show or movie together. Here are some ways to start these conversations: Educators Adolescence can be an exciting and challenging time when both young people’s bodies and minds are going through lots of changes. Having at least one trusted adult they can talk to about sensitive topics, such as puberty, their feelings and growing up, really helps. Trusted adults can be parents, grandparents, other relatives, caregivers, teachers or coaches. Even a young person’s friends’ parents can provide advice, answer difficult questions, share their values and/or faith traditions. Regardless of who a trusted adult is, what matters is that this person provide the support a young person needs and deserves. This is especially true for young people facing additional physical, emotional or social challenges. Young people can feel awkward and nervous about talking with adults, especially if they know adults are going to judge or lecture them. While an adult may want to do all of the talking and tell a young person how to feel and what to think, this is a sure way to have a young person withdraw. An adult who listens to what young people have to say and respects their experiences and perspectives will earn their trust. If a young person does not feel judged, that young person is more likely to be honest with an adult and seek out help if they get into trouble, feel uncomfortable at a party or need help thinking through how to handle a tough situation. Additional Resources Advocates for Youth Answer Planned Parenthood SIECUS YTH Lesson Plans 8th Grade—Lesson 2: The World Around Me When I Was A Teenager Like Mother Like Son? Breaking The Ice Books Talk to Me First: Everything You Need to Know to Become Your Kids’ "Go-To" Person About Sex Deborah Roffman