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The Right Words
Talk to Your Daughter About the Human Body
By Kelly Burgess
When Weston's daughters were 11, she put together a little kit to keep in their locker at school. She also provided one when they went to summer camp. She points out that, although the nurse has these supplies, a child is usually more comfortable with her mother providing them. A gesture like this can eliminate much of the anxiety your daughter may feel about being caught off guard.
As for tampons, although this may not be something you want to start your daughter off using, it's important to remember that they are a very comfortable alternative to pads – especially for swimmers and other athletes. Using tampons does not damage the vagina – they cannot enter the uterus through the cervix – nor does using a tampon mean a girl is no longer a virgin. The two important things to remember about tampons are as follows:
1. Be sure to insert it far enough into the vagina so the tip is not stuck in the vaginal opening. This can cause irritation and leakage. It's also very uncomfortable.
2. To avoid the risk of toxic shock (which is extremely low anyway), change the tampon frequently, wash hands before and after changing a tampon and wear a pad when going to bed for the night.
As a child goes through puberty, hormonal changes tend to affect skin, hair and body odor. Early puberty is also a timewhen they tend to resist the idea of bathing, simply because they're still children and have better things to do. Tell them that their body is undergoing changes that make their body odor less pleasant and that it's important to you that they take care of themselves while their body is changing. Remind them to wash their hair, since that's a step they like to skip. Eventually, they'll want to shower every day.
