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Teenage years are among the most challenging in every young girl’s life. Hormonal changes during adolescence lead to various emotional and physiological changes. All of this may be disconcerting to a young girl, and she may be yearning for someone with whom she can share the dilemmas and secrets of a teenage girl.
If your daughter or someone you know is going through something similar and needs help, this post can be a good start. We provide you with information about teenage girls’ emotions and how you can approach your daughter to help her through this phase of self-discovery and help her gain maturity.
Key Pointers
- Emotional and physiological changes make the teenage phase challenging for girls.
- Parents should inform girls about important aspects like the menstrual cycle, breast development, acne, facial hair, and body odor.
- Building self-confidence and preparing girls for this life-changing phase requires observance and open communication.
- To help their daughters cope with these changes, parents should have a positive and proactive relationship with them, and educate them.
Teenage Secrets
Here are some vital transformations to occur in your teen girl’s life:
1. The onset of menstrual cycle:
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- The thought of periods and the onset of the menstruation cycle haunt the mind of every teen girl. Your growing angel may often think, “When will my period start?” or “What if I start bleeding in the middle of class?”
- Your teen often wonders about how to handle her period during school time.
- You can take your teen to a gynecologist, who can measure the expected time of the onset of puberty using a device called Tanner scale. The instrument looks at your teen’s netherhair , and how much her bosom has developed in the last few years.
- When your teen does not have netherhair and the chest looks almost flat, the onset of menstruation has some more time left.
- But once she notices the growth of curly netherhair and growth of bust, the odds are high that she will have her first period soon.
- To prepare your teen for her period, ask her to carry a sanitary napkin to school with her.
- Whenever your teen notices a dark brown or pinkish spot in her inner wear, ask her to wear the pad for safety. It is also advisable for your teen to wear dark-colored bottom wear like skirts or trousers.
- If your teen’s period starts in the middle of classes, she can simply go to the toilet and wad up some tissue in her panty. After returning home, she can immediately throw the tissue and wear the sanitary pad.
- A girl’s first period brings not just physical changes but also mixed emotions like anxiety and excitement. Understanding this helps parents approach the topic with care and support.
Olunfunmike, a medical student from Nigeria, shares her first-period experience as a young girl. She says, “I got my first period when I was 13. It happened one Saturday morning in September 2014… I woke up that morning to use the restroom, and lo and behold, the red witch was here. I didn’t shout or make a fuss; in fact, I almost didn’t inform my mum because I thought, ‘Girl, you got this!’ I eventually told her because I didn’t have a pad to use. I had totally forgotten about the promo pack I Always gave to us when they came to my school that I had been keeping for years. My mum gave me one of hers, and I used it. It felt uncomfortable. My mum went ahead to give me “the talk” about how I have now become a woman, and I should be careful around boys and the rest… I did not really have any questions about periods because prior to that time, we had been taught in school about the whole menstruation brouhaha. Also, Always had come to give us an orientation about it, so I already had enough information about it (i).”
2. Enlargement of bust:
- During puberty, your teen will notice sudden enlargement of the bust and her hips due to increase in fatty tissue deposits.
- Some teen girls also experience slight pain in their bust, when they go through puberty phase. But in the case of severe pain, it is best to consult the doctor.
Quick tip3. Body odor:
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- Your adolescent’s body odor is a bit different, and she reeks. Teenage sweat differs from kid’s sweat, and the body odor is worse than before.
- The hormonal changes activate her armpit glands, which contribute to the odor. The sweat further combines with the bacteria and emits a pungent smell.
- Instruct your teen girl to take a shower every day with lukewarm water and mild soap. She needs to follow basic hygiene like changing inner wear every day and wearing clean clothes.
- Your teen may use a deodorant that can mask unwanted odor and help her stay fresh and feel good.
- It is advisable for teen girls to wear pure cotton inner wear and clothing, as it helps absorb sweat and is airier than other textiles.
Point to consider4. Growth of facial and body hair:
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- The growth of unwanted netherhair and underarm hair is one of the common signs of puberty in teen girls. Your teen may have hair growth on armpits and upper lips that may make her feel embarrassed and she may have to visit the parlor regularly.
- To minimize the unwanted hair growth on upper lips and underarms the grown up girl can opt for cosmetic treatments like waxing, bleaching or depilatories. To shave the unwanted hairs of underarm, legs, and bikini line, she can also use a ladies razor or an electric hair remover.
- When your daughter frequently experiences irregular periods, too much unwanted netherhair and skin acne she may have Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). In such a case, it is best to consult the specialist immediately.
5. Skin acne:
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- During puberty, your girl may experience skin acne. The hormonal imbalance makes her skin oily, and she develops pimples and blisters.
- To keep skin acne under control, your teen must follow hygiene etiquettes like washing the face regularly. She should never scrub her skin as it can worsen the acne and irritate her skin.
- Doctors prescribe usage of over-the-counter topical medications containing salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide for the treatment of skin acne.
Quick tipHow To Help Your Teen Girl Cope With The Situation?
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It is tough to be a parent today and even harder when you have a teenager at home. Teenage growth spurt, hormonal changes, and various other changes might make the teenagers feel distant from their parents, or they may find one parent, mother or father, easier to approach.
Parenting teenagers, especially teenage girls, requires getting along well with them so they feel comfortable coming to you with any issues.As shown in the graph below, using the data collected from the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (LSAC), 80-90% of girls and boys (10-13 years) prefer to go to their mothers with a problem, as compared with 72-77% of boys and 55-66% of girls who would rather go to their father.
Who would young teens go to with their problems
Source: Relationships between parents and young teens; The Longitudinal Study of Australian Children It is tough to be a parent today and even harder when you have a teen daughter. You can follow these tips to help our teen girl cope with puberty and the unwanted transformations it entails:
- Be observant. When your daughter goes through trouble, she may become a bit nervous and stressed out. Try to observe her and don’t let her keep secrets. You can watch for visible changes in her routine and behavior and take requisite actions accordingly.
- Try to develop a healthy relationship with your teenage girl and help her discover her identity. Tell her the facts of life and what transformations you had to face during and after puberty. Establish a trustworthy relationship and enable your daughter to feel confident about her life. Staying silent or making threatening comments can affect your teen’s mental health, and it may weaken your relationship.
- Educate your daughter and help her learn more about the different aspects of teen life. Make her aware of the physical transformation she will face during puberty so that she remains prepared for a life-changing phase.
- One of the best ways to handle your teen’s issues is by staying positive and proactive. Instead of threatening your daughter, try to encourage her and get involved in worthwhile activities.
- Try to have open communication with your teen girl that strengthens your relationship. Communication may involve both talking and listening. The open communication encourages your teen to disclose her fears and get her doubts clarified regarding sexuality, physical intimacy, puberty, and menstruation.
- Many teen girls have poor self-esteem and body image issues due to peer pressure and overexposure to social media. As a responsible parent, it is best to remain positive and establish a positive energy to boost her self-confidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How can I enjoy my teenage years?
Being a teenage girl could be difficult but you may enjoy it to the fullest. Connect with your parents and spend time with them, focus on your studies and give time to your hobbies. There may be challenges for you during your teenage years but do not neglect the small yet meaningful happiness this period brings.
2. Is it normal for my teenage girl to have secrets?
It is normal that your teenage girl may have a few secrets and you may have to accept this. But make sure you know her friend circle and hangout places. Having secrets is normal as long as she is not in any kind of harm.
It is essential to have a friendly bond and communication between parents and teens. Secrets of a teenage girl may include concerns about the physical and emotional changes of puberty. Menstruation, enlargement of the bust, body odor, and facial and body hair growth can concern teens, and they may not share any accompanying symptoms such as pain or discomfort with others. Since teenagers are defined by vulnerability due to self-doubt, educating about pubertal changes and encouraging them to trust you and share concerns and queries can help your teen have the right information.
Infographic: Ways To Support Your Daughter Deal With Puberty
Puberty brings about many changes in girls. Supporting your teenage daughter at this time can be challenging. But you need to be a role model and a source of reassurance for your girl. Use the tips in this infographic to help assist your child during this stage. Illustration: Momjunction Design Team
Illustration: Teenage Secrets Every Teen Girl Should Know
Image: Stable Diffusion/MomJunction Design Team
Puberty can be confusing and overwhelming. Let’s decode it together and learn what to expect during this important time in a girl’s life.
Personal Experience: Source
MomJunction articles include first-hand experiences to provide you with better insights through real-life narratives. Here are the sources of personal accounts referenced in this article.
i. My first period story;https://thefunmyke.wordpress.com/2020/05/28/my-first-period-story/
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