The Puberty Talk

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Hi all!

I'm a first year certified school nurse and I'll be giving the puberty talk today to the fifth grade girls (I have a male teacher that agreed to cover the boys).

I have a video that covers a majority of the discussion for me, but wanted to see if any of you had any words of advice? Are any of you in charge of the puberty talk? What kinds of questions were you asked that I should prepare myself for?

Thank you!

Night farting?

"Dutch oven"

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Last year was my first year with "The Talk". Another nurse and I covered the girls while the PE teacher talks to the boys. We show a DVD and then let everyone ask questions. My biggest piece of advice: no WHAT IF questions! I swear those will go on for days! "What if I'm at the beach and no one is with me and I don't have a change of clothes and I start my period and..." "What if I'm at my friends' house but only her dad is home and I'm afraid to ask him for a pad and I start my period and I need..." Come on ladies, none of these things are actually going to happen. My favorite question was "Can you get your period more than once in day?". I also enjoyed the mortified looks you get when you explain that this will happen once a month(at least) until they are, like, super old!

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"Secondary Sex Characteristics"

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"Nocturnal emissions"

"Dutch oven"

"Secondary Sex Characteristics"

This. This is your legacy.

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I have not had to do any talks like this. I think I would enjoy it.

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Specializes in IMC, school nursing.

I have offered, but my school doesn't go there. I got some complaints for talking mental illness.

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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:

Those are all great ideas! I love the panties example, I never would have thought of that.

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In a related story, I just explained periods to my eight year old son the other day. We were looking for something in the medicine cabinet and there was pad. He asked what it was for (my 11 year old girl already knows and his twin sister was listening too) and I gave him the quick run down. I said it happens to girls around age 11/12 and he pointed at his sister and said "It's gonna be for her soon then"

I'm glad he asked. I hate to think of him being a boy who is grossed out by his future GF/wife's bodily functions.

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Specializes in IMC, school nursing.

My menopausal wife explained it to our boys, just because. They have 2 nurses for parents, Heaven help their classmates.

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My menopausal wife explained it to our boys, just because. They have 2 nurses for parents, Heaven help their classmates.

I have a nurse mom and I don't think I ever freaked my friends out with gross stories. But one time I had this conversation with a friend when my mom came home with a syringe in her pocket and left it on the counter. I think we were 15 or 16.

Friend: Uh, T? What is this?

Me: it's a syringe

F: So... Why is it here?

Me: not sure. It's probably my mom's.

F: ...

Me: ...

F: ...

Me: She's a nurse.

F: Oh!

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Specializes in IMC, school nursing.

My kids have already corrected classmates regarding sexual matters. They are pretty matter of fact and clinical, pretty boring actually.

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My menopausal wife explained it to our boys, just because. They have 2 nurses for parents, Heaven help their classmates.

My poor kids have 2 nurses for parents and 2 for grandparents! In preschool, my daughter told the teacher that it's not a "jaw bone" it's a mandible.

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