sex ed

PUBERTY & DEVELOPMENT INFORMATION

The Facts:

female

Average Start:
11 Years Old

For girls, puberty usually starts
around age 11.
But it can start as early as
age 6 or 7.
male

Average Start:
12 Years Old

For boys, puberty begins
around age 12.
It can start as early
as age 9.
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Puberty is a Process

It occurs for several years.
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Average End:
14 Years Old

Most girls finish puberty by age 14.

Average End:
16 Years Old

Most boys finish puberty at age 15 or 16.

Precocious Puberty or Early Puberty

A study published in Pediatrics in 2010 found that among a population of 1,200 American girls,
about 23 percent of African-Americans,15 percent of Latinas and 10 percent of Caucasian girls had begun
puberty (marked by breast development) at age 7.

More Resources about precocious puberty:

Kids Health
WebMD
University of Michigan Medicine

Videos That Can Help:

Communication Resources:

Developmental
Sex Education
Table

See a child’s sexuality development from birth
through the teen years in order to tailor your
conversations to your child’s needs.

Developmental
Sex Education
Table

See a child’s sexuality development from birth
through the teen years in order to tailor your
conversations to your child’s needs.

Basic Healthy
Conversations
Framework

Here are some
helpful steps for healthy and
meaningful conversations.

Puberty:
Conversation Starters
& Scenarios

Scenarios that you and your
child can read together to help frame
a meaningful discussion.

Puberty:
Framework to
Help Discussions

When parents initiate a discussion or an opportunity arises to talk, here are some helpful steps for healthy and meaningful conversations.

Human Reproduction & Embryology:
Conversation Starters

Tips and conversation starters that can be used to introduce the topic of reproduction and offer opportunities to open a dialogue with your kids.

Other Links & Resources:

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