Puberty & Growing Up
Now that your child is a teenager, puberty will start to impact her behavioral, emotional, and social wellbeing. Navigating this period can be difficult since she is trying to figure out who she is and where she belongs. While this is a beautiful transition, it does require patience and understanding of your teen’s development. If your teenager is going through puberty and needs information on how to stay healthy during this transition, call Dr. Moemeka today at (972) 325-2005.
How does puberty impact my teenager?
Puberty can be a confusing time. Now that your child is officially a teenager, her body has been changing, and she will begin to start showing more dramatic behavioral, emotional, and social changes. She will likely show more interest in crushes, be more independent, act out more frequently, and prioritize social relationships over family. This is all normal.
Adolescent confidentiality
At 13, your child will speak with Dr. Moemeka alone. Now that your teen is talking with Dr. Moemeka alone, she should understand that anything that has to do with sex, drugs, and emotional health, unless it is a risk to her or someone else, is completely confidential between she and Dr. Moemeka. As her trusted Coppell pediatrician, Dr. Moemeka cannot share anything with parents unless she consents.
At Mark9 Pediatrics, we strive to create an environment that is a safe space in which your child can grow up and be healthy, and this means being comfortable to share information about her life that she may not be comfortable telling anyone else about. Teenagers need privacy and need to be able to ask questions that they aren’t comfortable asking their parents.
Sexual development
While it might be taboo to talk about, your child is developing sexually during puberty. She will start to explore her body, her personal boundaries, and romantic relationships. If you’re comfortable with it, you should keep an open line of communication with your child so that she can start to ask you questions about her changing body, sex, and relationships.
Having her questions answered not only helps promote physical wellness and safe sex practices and beliefs, but it also helps your child’s emotional wellness by making sure she knows that you and your home are a welcome space for her to explore this next phase in her life safely.
Emotional Wellness
Emotional wellness during puberty is just as important as physical wellness. While their bodies are changing, children going through puberty are also experiencing dramatic changes in their emotions. Some kids might be quicker to anger or sadness, and they can be confused about what is happening to their bodies and with their hormones. It can be embarrassing and sometimes cause anxiety for children to talk to their parents about sex. If your child is uncomfortable talking about sex with you, talk to Dr. Moemeka about scheduling an appointment for your child or seeking resources to help your child navigate this confusing and exciting time.
Having the right information not only supports your child’s physical wellness, but it can also empower her to make smart choices and determine what is really best for her and her emotional wellness.
Social wellness
Peer pressure can be really stressful during this time. As a teenager, your child is bombarded with messages about how to behave in a culture that has largely normalized sex, drugs, and beauty standards that are simply unattainable for many people. In social circles, your child may be exposed to drugs, sex, and undesirable habits like smoking or vaping. During her appointment, she will be able to talk to Dr. Moemeka about managing her social circles, not succumbing to peer pressure, and balancing her home-life, school-life, social-life, and work-life.
The behavioral changes that happen during puberty can inspire your child to make riskier decisions, and Dr. Moemeka is a safe, confidential space where she can figure out how to navigate becoming an adult.
If your teen is going through puberty, schedule her appointment with Dr. Moemeka to help her navigate this exciting time! Call Mark9 Pediatrics today at (972) 325-2005 today or request an appointment online to schedule your teen’s appointment.