(Part 2) Best health & maturing books for children according to redditors

I think getting him a book on puberty is a really good idea. You can't just shut this away and expect him not to be curious. I found porn at a pretty young age -- I think I was 9 or so. As far as I can tell, I've turned out to be a healthy individual when it comes to sex. My mom did talk to me about it, basically she said that she understood why I was curious but that I was too young to be visiting those kinds of sites, that they were for adults and not realistic, etc. She also got me a couple different books on puberty and I remember spending a good amount of time on sites for adolescents that explained things like puberty.

It's unfortunate that you're the one who's going to end up dealing with this, but someone needs to talk to him and it doesn't sound like your mother will. 7 is really young to be processing the nuances of porn and sexuality. Ideally, you'll continue to have conversations with him as he grows older and you can broach more complicated or serious topics like healthy sexual relationships and STDs.

For now, here are some resources:

Scarleteen -- Really good sex education website for adolescents

What's Happening To My Body? -- I had a girl's version of this book when I was younger, and it's really good, very detailed. There's also a companion book, My Body My Self, that's designed to be more interactive, kids are supposed to journal or answer questions or write about themselves in it, but it's also got a ton of information.

Good luck!

>I had this whole thing planned. I was going to get her the book, "Our Bodies, Ourselves", buy her some feminine products, some chocolate, and just be as open and supportive as possible

You can still do these things! Maybe choose a book more suited to reading level, but they are out there.

I was trying to find my favorite kid book on menstruation and I THINK this is the one -- but maybe check it out at a library first. As I remember it was really easy for me to "get" without feeling gross and shamed.

You sound like a fantastic mom. I think as long as you are a parent that she can come to (maybe with encouragement) when she's hurt, confused, or cranky, you should be great.

Maybe approaching this as perfectly natural would bring you closer together? Since she is quite young, maybe start with just a general book about bodies developing? You can work your way up to the more complicated stuff. Don't freak out about this, as that might make her believe it's unnatural and wrong -- as a young child, she's probably only going to have a really basic understanding of what's going on. Answer her questions, but don't make her afraid of what might be lurking in her chest/privates. If she's not ready to talk about any of this stuff, tell her that's ok, but make sure she has access to books and that whenever she wants she can change her mind.

Don't put the cart before the horse, but once the horse is ready, don't spook the horse with a scary fucking cart full of misery and periods!

Also -- if your sister had to point them out, are you sure it's not possibly a little lingering baby fat? It may have been early and I didn't notice, but I think I was like I was maybe 10 when I started "developing breasts" -- but it's not like they ballooned over night. I want to say it wasn't noticeable until high school. I was ashamed of them, of course, but my mom let me wear what I wanted -- if she favors baggy clothes or tighter shirts, (or better yet -- feel fabulous in any outfit!) all you need to do is support her and frequently remind her that you two can talk about anything.

If someone bullies her, makes her feel like a "freak", let her know that you can handle the problem, in a way that will not draw attention to the situation, especially if she's a shy girl. Don't demand she wear a bra and be an expert on menses. You buy her clothes, so if she's not ready for the undershirts, maybe try to find materials that are a little less clingy, or buy larger sizes because she's growing into such a lady! The idea of a regimented, rule-based approach to this might make her feel overwhelmed. Just give her the information and resources she needs :)

Curious -- have you noticed any other pre pubescent signs? (Hair under there, body odor, etc?)

TL;DR: You'll be fine. Don't give her any information she isn't ready for or doesn't ask for. Don't talk about it in terms of HAVING to do stuff -- wear bras and what to do when it happens.

He's NINE. He just wants to know what the difference between his parts are and a girl's. Science. Not sex. There is a big difference. This little boy, and yes he is a little boy, has not hit puberty yet. He wants to know what the parts look like.

There are excellent books out there for kids his age that will do very well in explaining and diagramming exactly that. He has his entire teen and adult years to learn about porn. Let him be a kid.

Here are some books for reference:

The Boy's Body Book

Let's Talk About S-E-X

• Asking About Sex and Growing Up

I've heard this is a really good one for his age. You could also try this or this.

Also, the First Moon celebrations in Anglosphere. Quite rare these days, though. Occasionally referred to in comedy videos: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEcZmT0fiNM

Another book plug. Good luck man. The universe thanks you for your deeds.

The Girls' Guide to Growing Up https://smile.amazon.com/dp/1526360187/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_Mw4UCbHJVHM1K

check this out

Sweet Secret?

First Apartment Smarts (Get Smart with Your Money)

I got this book and a "good luck, kid."

The book had precious little information about what having sex meant, so I had to fill in the gaps with my imagination. For years, I thought oral sex was talking dirty.

Get a book aimed at girls her age, like The Care and Keeping of You 1 or Ready, Set, Grow!. Read through it with her, and make sure she knows she can ask you anything. It's never too early to start that discussion - even if she isn't dealing with these changes herself yet, she likely has friends and classmates who are.