Puberty can be a confusiong time for kids and parents. You'll feel a lot better about the process if you know what to expect. This section is really intended for teens and tweens but talk to your parents before reading too far. In fact, you'll get more out of this page if you look at it with your parents!
Genitalia get bigger slightly - you may not notice this
Breast buds
What Happens Next
These changes happen in both boys and girls shortly after the earliest sign occurs:
Growth Spurt: this is usually the second sign of puberty in both boys and girls
Hunger: you will have a huge appetite so many healthy choices.
Skin: Your Skin will get more oily and you will start to get some acne. You will also get sweaty under your arms and develop an odor. This is a good time to start using a deodorant and antiperspirant.
Mood: you may feel moody and jumpy at times; this is normal!
Even though the physical changes don't happen until you are 10-12 years of age the moodiness can occr as early as 9 years!
Body 101
(changes to expect inside and out)
Growth: Arms, legs and feet may get bigger than the rest of you at first. Eventually you will look like older boys and your dad with a long torso and broad shoulders. Your muscles will get bigger, too.
Hair: You will start to get hair in your private parts, under your arms and on your face. Some boys also get hair on their chests and back
Growth: Arms, legs and feet may get bigger than the rest of you at first. Eventually you will start to look like older girls you know and your mom with wider hips and waist. You will also get more curvy and have more fat in the stomach and butt area.
Hair: You will start to get hair under your arms, in your private area and on your legs.
When to worry that puberty has not yet started
15 years old
Talk to your parents and pediatrician if you are concerned.
13 years old
Talk to your parents and pediatrician if you are concerned.
Special Issues
Wet Dreams: this indicates that your body is now making sperm. The process of releasing this material is called Ejaculation.
Breasts: it is not uncommon for boys to develop some breast tissue under their nipples. This is very normal and often on only one side. It is called gynecomastia.
Voice: your voice will get deeper and may crack
Menstruation begins typically 1-2 years after breast buds. There is a huge range of normal for the first period, 9-16 years. Talk to your mom or pediatrician if you have questions about this. Once you are in middle school you need to be prepared and have some pads and extra underwear on hand.
Tanner Stages
All kids progress through 5 stages of puberty, called Tanner Stages. Puberty really describes the maturing of the reproductive process in a person, inside and out. The Tanner Stages describe the physical changes that we can see. By the end of puberty, girls could have a baby and boys could conceive a baby. So, puberty is the perfect time to start learning about the birds and the bees, or how a baby is conceived.
Stage
Boys: Genitalia
Girls: Breasts
Public Hair:
boys and girls
I
Prepubertal
Prepubertal
Prepubertal: no hair
II
Boys: age 12.5-14.5
Girls: age 10-12
Testes: a bit larger (first sign in boys)
Scrotum: red
Penis: childlike still
Breast: small bud, widened areola (first sign in girls)
Boys: scant at base of scrotum
Girls: scant on labia majora
III
Boys: age 13-15
Girls: age11-13
Testes: larger
Scrotum: darker
Penis: increases in length
Breasts: larger and more elevated
Hair more curly and coarser moving towards thighs
IV
Boys: age 13.5-15.5
Girls: age12-14
Testes: more enlargement
Scrotum: more darkening
Penis: now increases in circumference
Breasts: secondary mound of areola from body
Adult-type hair covering genitalia but not on thighs
