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Puberty talks

When and how you talk about puberty and bodily changes: gradually from early childhood, in one planned talk, or leaving it to school.

When and how should we talk to our child about puberty?

In short: Parents choose between 3 main approaches: Ongoing from early childhood; "the talk" at 8-10; Leave it to school. Evidence: evidence leans one way. Research or guidance points in a direction, but it's thin, small or correlational. Best settled: school age.

Evidence
Evidence leans one way
Best settled
School age
Part of
Raising the child

Puberty talks: what are the options?

Parents usually land on one of these 3 approaches.

  1. 1. Ongoing from early childhood

    You talk about bodies and changes little by little from a young age.

  2. 2. "the talk" at 8-10

    You have one planned conversation at around eight to ten.

  3. 3. Leave it to school

    You let the school cover it.

Puberty talks: what does the evidence say?

Evidence leans one way. Research or guidance points in a direction, but it's thin, small or correlational.

Pediatric sources advise starting around 7-8, before changes begin

Sources

What else is worth knowing?

Children start puberty at different ages, some as early as eight. Many small conversations tend to work better than one big talk. Decide who will have them and what you want your child to hear from you first.

Questions to ask each other

  • Who told us about puberty and how did it go?
  • When would we start talking to our child?
  • Who should have the talk, and does it differ for sons and daughters?

More in Health, body and toileting

First published 2026-10-03. Last updated 2026-10-05. General information, not medical advice.