The Puberty Talk

loveschoolnursing · Mar 3, 2016

I do what you do....play the video .....pass out pads/info kit.......tell them that if they need supplies, I have them in my office (tell them to keep spare pair of underwear and shorts in bookbag) and then ask if there are any questions. Usually not. Done!

One year I did have a little girl cry during the video, that kind of threw me off....just removed her from class and she took a breather in my office. PERIOD STRESS IS REAL PEOPLE!!!!

Eleven011 · Mar 3, 2016

I am in the same boat. First year as a school nurse and I have been working on getting this all figured out. I have a husband/wife dr. team that comes in and talks with the 6th graders. The 5th graders I will be using the procter and gamble program/video and I will also show the P&G puberty video to the 4th grade girls also. The 4th grade boys I'll show a hygeine video i found on youtube. I'm not looking forward to it!

OldDude · Mar 3, 2016

My advise is to call in sick on the day scheduled to do that.

txbootsy · Mar 3, 2016

Yep show the video, pass out goodies, and ask if they have any questions.

I am teaching the 5th grade boys and girls in May.

Farawyn · Mar 3, 2016

"Nocturnal emissions"

abc123RN · Mar 3, 2016

Standard answer to "sensitive" questions is always, always, "That question is better answered at home by ______ "(mom, dad, aunt, guardian which ever fits the family situation). I always let the kids boys and girls know my office is open and the principal stops by to tell the boys his office is open for questions if they don't want to ask at home.

nurseletDZ · Mar 3, 2016

The kids are going to have questions but chances are they won't ask out loud in front of people. Maybe pass out notecards for each one to write a question and then go through them afterward. It's also good to ask them questions and gauge their understanding of answers so you can get an idea of any misconceptions and correct them.

I'm not a school nurse but I have some experience doing STD prevention education for groups teenagers.

Farawyn · Mar 3, 2016

The question box was big when I was a kid.

abc123RN · Mar 3, 2016

If your students are anything like the girls here, your office will be swamped the next day for those questions they didn't want to ask in front of everyone or at home.

OldDude · Mar 3, 2016

"Nocturnal emissions"

Night farting?

Kittery · Mar 3, 2016

The kids are going to have questions but chances are they won't ask out loud in front of people. Maybe pass out notecards for each one to write a question and then go through them afterward. It's also good to ask them questions and gauge their understanding of answers so you can get an idea of any misconceptions and correct them.
I'm not a school nurse but I have some experience doing STD prevention education for groups teenagers.

I have a box that the girls drop anonymous questions in. There are pre- and post- tests that P&G has and I usually go through those, but I think this year I'm going to liven it up with a Jeopardy style game or something. I'm also going to buy a pack of new undies to actually show how a pad/pantiliner goes on.

The questions you'll get really depend on the group of students. Last year I talked to 2 separate groups of 5th grade girls and it was surprising how the discussion varied between the groups. One group's questions were really geared toward puberty changes while the other one veered into sex and pregnancy. I make sure to let them know that those are really good questions and that they're just outside of the scope of our topic, but definitely something they can and should talk with parents/other trusted adults about. Also, I had to teach very basic anatomy ... sometimes they don't know that their period, pee, and poop all come from different holes. :sarcastic: