Growing Up for Boys: Everything You Need to Know

Product Information

Bozzola M, Bozzola E, Montalbano C, Stamati FA, Ferrara P, Villani A. Delayed puberty versus hypogonadism: a challenge for the pediatrician. Ann Pediatr Endocrinol Metab. 2018;23(2):57–61. doi:10.6065/apem.2018.23.2.57

However, if serious emotional problems arise — if your son doesn’t want to do the things he usually enjoys, or hang out with his friends or experiences a drop in grades — it’s important to have him evaluated with his pediatrician,” says Dr. Issac. Never tell your son, “Big boys don’t cry” or “You’re acting like a girl.” In addition to reinforcing gender stereotypes, that type of talk can actually be harmful. “If boys are cut off from honestly communicating hard feelings, the energy of the upset doesn’t simply diminish or go away; it can drive misbehavior and taint how a boy feels about himself and life in general,” says Michael C. Reichert, Ph.D. a psychologist and author of How to Raise a Boy: The Power of Connection to Build Good Men. Some boys notice that girls grow taller before they do. That's because girls get a head start on puberty — and growing taller — because they usually start these changes between the ages of 8 and 13. When Will I Get Muscles? During puberty, t here isn't just one event or sign that you're growing up. There are lots of them, including your body growing bigger, your voice changing, and hair sprouting everywhere. Note that masturbation is normal and harmless, for girls as well as boys, as long as it is done privately.

Trending Topics

Parents can typically ride out these issues. ( Read what a pediatric psychologist says about talking to your teen.) Talking about puberty isn’t a one-time conversation. Talk to your kids about the changes their bodies will go through as they grow. Some girls start puberty at 8 years old, and some boys do by 9. So you may need to start these talks earlier than you think. Discuss the physical and emotional changes that come with puberty before they begin. The Timing With Boys and Girls Is there someone you can't stop thinking about? Maybe you feel flushed or get sweaty palms when they say "hi." Or maybe your friends talk about their crushes and you think, "Why don't I feel or talk this way about someone? Am I supposed to?"

What is this hard lump in my breast? Girls may notice small, sometimes tender lumps beneath their nipples as their breasts are beginning to develop. This is perfectly normal. The firmness and tenderness will go away in time as the breasts continue to grow. One early spring day, an inexperienced honeybee named Beatrice hears about the most beautiful garden in the world, and she decides to go on an expedition, even if it means breaking a rule or two. When a change in the weather turns her outing into a near-disaster, Bea realizes that rules are for her own good.Sexual Maturity Rating 3: (From 10 years old to 16 years old) The testes continue to grow in volume and size. The penis becomes longer. The scrotum continues to enlarge. Pubic hairs become darker and curlier and more of them appear. As a mom of a 13-year-old boy, I often wonder whether his father and I are raising him the right way. So often, the things we hear about boys and men are negative. It’s hard not to worry. And then the constant "boys will be boys" messages make me question whether certain troublesome behaviors and attitudes are just part of the male makeup. You can't help having wet dreams, and they are nothing to be embarrassed about. Almost all boys have them at some time during puberty.