Within the human lifespan, puberty is one of the most significant periods that is characterized by the most vivid changes in the multiple areas of the life of an individual. The scope of rapid changes in the brain and body of a child in adolescence exposes individuals to enhanced anxiety and uncertainty. Thus, parents or caregivers must support the child during this challenging period by explanations, conversations, and informing.
Firstly, to explain physical aspect of puberty to a girl, one should discuss the onset of menstruation. It is crucial to instruct a teenage girl about the biological side of the process to eliminate anxiety and health concerns (Sandhya & Bimala, 2017). Also, this aspect is critically important due to the necessity of hygiene instructions to enhance healthy development. Within the context of psychosocial changes, a parent should explain the changes in the child’s perception of the role of peers in his or her life and decision-making (Shetty et al., 2016). By acknowledging the shift of a child’s interest toward friends and peer group, the parent might emphasize the importance to avoid substance abuse or other harmful behaviors. The awareness about the psychological challenges will help the teenager to deal with them in a healthy and effective way. Finally, when discussing the cognitive sphere, parents should explain the concept of becoming an adult and thinking as an adult. The child should be supported in the process of perceiving the world in its complexity. Therefore, conversations on such topics as professional development, society, politics, and others should be initiated.
In conclusion, the explanation and informing of teenagers about their pubertal bodily changes, as well as shifts in psychosocial and cognitive domains are essential. They allow for supporting a child in a challenging period of the lifespan and set a foundation for healthy self-perception. The failure to address puberty-related changes in communication with a child might lead to unawareness that will cause significant negative outcomes.
References
Sandhya, P., & Bimala, P. (2017). Awareness and attitude on pubertal changes among community adolescents. International Journal of Caring Sciences, 10(3), 1255-1264.
Shetty, A. K., George, A. P., Beena, K. J., Kabiraj, T., Paul, B., Raj, A. A., & Alex, S. (2016). Effectiveness of planned teaching programme on knowledge regarding pubertal changes among adolescent boys in selected high school of Udupi District. Nitte University Journal of Health Science, 6(2), 17-19.