Girls going through puberty: what is changing

When your daughter hits puberty , it’s not only exhausting and confusing for her, but also for you. Family rules are fiercely debated, doors slam and everyday styling suddenly takes on a particularly high priority – your little girl becomes the woman who begins adolescence .

When and how puberty becomes noticeable in girls cannot be answered in general terms. According to current studies, the “difficult” phase seems to start earlier and earlier. For example, some girls begin to develop pubic hair at the age of eight or nine and their breasts bulge. On the other hand, it can also take a little while to get into puberty. Eating behavior and environmental influences, but above all genetic factors determine when puberty begins in girls.

Girls and the first surge of hormones

Pre -puberty begins for many girls between the ages of 8 and 10 . This first phase of puberty is generally described as the transition from child to adolescent. Even before the ovulation cycle begins with the first menstrual period, the body begins to produce estrogen. On the one hand, this first advance of the hormones is noticeable physically, for example through impure skin, greasy hair or the first pubic hair .

On the other hand, under the influence of hormones, emotions also take a rollercoaster ride. Bitching and big outbursts of emotion alternate with childlike behavior and the need to cuddle. In the “in between” your daughter is torn between being a child and becoming a teenager.

girls in puberty

Puberty peaks in girls between the ages of 11 and 16 . In this phase, there are major physical changes in particular:

• Pubic hair, initially smooth, becomes denser and curls. The first hairs grow in the armpits.
• The breast develops, often in spurts. First, the breast tissue bulges, the areolas darken and stand out a little. The nipples develop. The breasts sometimes only reach their final size and shape towards the end of puberty.
• The vagina enlarges, the uterus grows into the typical inverted pear shape. The labia minora grow and may become darker and “wrinkled”.
• The first menstrual period begins. The first menstruation is often announced a few months beforehand by whitish vaginal discharge. You can prepare your daughter for this by explaining what is happening in her body. How tampons and pads are used is not always self-explanatory and should be discussed.
• Height and weight increase in girls during puberty. The hips become broader and rounder. During the growth spurt, many girls seem a bit awkward, but this evens out over time.
• Young skin easily forms pimples and blackheads during puberty due to increased sebum production . Although these are annoying, they can usually be easily combated with a few tricks. It is different with so-called puberty acne , which should definitely be examined and treated by a dermatologist.

The typical behavior of girls during puberty varies between argumentative and rebellious and indifferent and negative. Your daughter demands more freedom, tests limits and increasingly deals with her own sexuality . The comparison with girls of the same age, but also with images of women in the media, often leads to a critical look at one’s own body: Am I normal? Am I pretty? How can I change?

Here you are asked to take away your child’s fears, to convey a healthy self-image and to enlighten them. This includes the “embarrassing” conversations about sex, contraception and your own body. But even the small gestures and remarks in everyday life have an effect, for example a compliment about the great outfit. By the way: You can find tips and information about education for your child in our special on the subject of education .

Puberty in girls on its last legs

With the late puberty from about 16 years your daughter takes the last steps into adult life. The time of great physical changes is slowly coming to an end. Your daughter has become familiar with her new body and is developing her own values ​​and ideas for the future. This also means that the rules and ideas of the parents are questioned and sometimes heavily criticized.

Detaching yourself from your parental home is certainly sometimes painful for you. That’s what most parents do when their kids fledge. At the same time, it is exciting and nice to watch how your child grows into an individual personality that meets you on an equal footing.