# Puberty talks

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

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

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.

- Area: Health, body and toileting
- Evidence: Evidence leans one way
- Best settled: School age
- First published: 2026-10-03
- Last updated: 2026-10-05
- Page: https://www.raisingyourchild.com/topics/health-body-and-toileting--puberty-talks

## Puberty talks: what are the options?

1. **Ongoing from early childhood**: You talk about bodies and changes little by little from a young age.
2. **"the talk" at 8-10**: You have one planned conversation at around eight to ten.
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:

- [Nationwide Children's](https://www.nationwidechildrens.org/family-resources-education/700childrens/2015/06/how-to-talk-with-your-kids-about-puberty)

## 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?

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General information, not medical advice. Two parents can each answer this and compare: https://www.raisingyourchild.com/explore?cat=health-body-and-toileting&topic=health-body-and-toileting--puberty-talks