Sooner or later, children learn about menstrual cycles through their mother, any sisters, classmates or the mass media. Since this is not an easy topic to address, prepare to discuss it by thinking carefully. Understanding the physiological processes that characterize gynecological health can help children become more understanding siblings, children, boyfriends and fathers.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Explaining the Menstruation Process
Step 1. Deepen your knowledge on this topic
It is difficult to give children certain information when it is not clear to you either. Before talking to them, do some research on this topic. Read texts written specifically for their age group. You could also study some graphical representations of the female reproductive system and include them in your explanation. The more familiar you are, the easier it will be for you to talk about it.
Get a book on menstrual cycles dedicated to children and try reading it alone or with your children
Step 2. Talk about the function of the uterus
It will be easier to clarify this part if the boy you are talking to already knows how babies are born. Otherwise, the conversation could be prolonged. Explain that every woman has a kind of "nest", called a womb, which allows her to raise a child. Each month her body prepares to welcome a new baby. Therefore, the uterus must become stronger and, as a result, become covered with a lining.
- For example, a mother might explain the process in these terms: "Every woman has a uterus, in which babies grow until they are ready to go out. Each month her body prepares for a baby and the lining of the uterus becomes it thickens so much that it captures an egg and stores it. If the time is right to have a baby, the egg will grow inside the uterus."
- If he is having trouble understanding the concept, you could tell him that the uterus is like a balloon inside a woman's belly. At the age of 5, children should feel comfortable hearing about the reproductive organs.
Step 3. Explain that bleeding occurs when the fetus does not form
If a woman is not pregnant, the uterus no longer needs the lining that formed during the month. The lining breaks down and is dispersed into the vaginal canal in the form of blood.
A mother might go on to say, "If a woman does not wish to have another baby, the lining of the uterus is released because it is no longer needed. The body sheds it in the form of blood by expelling it from the vagina."
Step 4. Talk about the products you use during the first few days of your menstrual cycle
Explain that women use tampons, pads, and menstrual cups to collect blood that is expelled. Emphasize that this is the lining the body makes to carry the pregnancy and that the blood is not caused by a wound.
- You can say, "Each woman chooses how to collect blood from the uterus and vagina according to her preferences. There are many ways to do this. The aim is not to dirty clothes."
- If you are talking to an older child, you can explain each product to him and how it works.
Part 2 of 3: Clarify Information That Can Be Confusing
Step 1. Talk about your period in a positive way
Before embarking on such an explanation, try to keep the speech on neutral or positive tracks. It is important for both boys and girls to view this phenomenon as a healthy and natural process, not as something to be ashamed, embarrassed or guilty about. Avoid using derogatory language that negatively characterizes the physiology of the menstrual cycle.
- Guys may think the blood loss is painful, as if it came from a cut. Reassure them that it doesn't hurt and isn't painful. You can explain that some women suffer from cramps, because the body contracts, but the pain does not come from the bleeding.
- When you talk about menstruation, stress that they are a healthy and normal part of women's growth. Just as boys get beards and voices change, girls begin to change physically too.
- Express yourself this way: "If a girl hasn't had her first period yet, she can't give birth to a baby. When her period comes, it means her body is ready to procreate. It's exciting to have this ability. Having said that., the fact that a woman is ready or not to carry on a pregnancy is another matter! ".
Step 2. Explain how the body cleans itself
If your audience is made up of smaller boys, you can talk about how a woman's body cleans itself by saying, "Girls 'bodies are different from boys'. In most cases, the cleansing process takes place from the "inside out, like when you pee, run out of body or blow your nose. However, as a woman grows, her organism begins to clean itself in another way. Sometimes, girls" they use special tools to promote personal hygiene ".
Step 3. Talk about the parts and functions of the body
Girls have different body areas than boys. It would be appropriate to use terms such as "uterus", "vagina" or "pregnancy", saying: "They are all parts of the body that girls have unlike boys. The uterus is where the baby grows inside the mother.. The vagina is the word that indicates the organ from which the unborn child will come into the world, leaving the body of the pregnant woman or from where the blood flows when the woman is not pregnant. Pregnancy occurs when a baby grows inside a woman".
You might say, "Women and girls have different anatomy than boys, because inside their body, unlike a man's, a baby can grow. Here's what's different between a boy. woman and a man"
Step 4. Explain the new terminology
If you are dealing with older guys, you should express yourself using terminology relevant to the physiology of the menstrual cycle. Clearly explain any new words you use, including "flow", "menstruation" or "period". You can also use less technical terms that kids might learn at school or on social networks, such as "red light", "indisposed" or "uncle river".
Give simple answers. If you have to explain the meaning of "cycle", try saying: "A cycle is a succession of facts or phenomena that always repeat themselves in the same order, but with this word it is also possible to indicate the period during which a woman's body it cleans itself from the inside out on a monthly basis. It summarizes a process that occurs in the female organism"
Step 5. Teach kids to respect the physiological process of menstruation
Clearly warn them that there is nothing "wrong" with menstrual blood. It is not embarrassing, disgusting or shameful. It doesn't make the woman "dirty". If kids know a friend is having periods, tell them to treat her with respect, don't tease her or pester her.
- You might say, "If you know a girl is having periods, you need to treat her with respect. It is not fair to make fun of her or ridicule her. Do not mortify her or anyone else. Always remember that it is normal for a woman to have periods."
- Let them know that menstruation is a totally healthy and natural physiological phenomenon.
Part 3 of 3: Talking about Development to Younger Children
Step 1. Start talking about this topic early
Don't wait for children to reach puberty before addressing this issue. Rather, try a gradual approach over time, otherwise in addition to making it feel like a taboo, you won't have the opportunity to correct the wrong information. Therefore, instead of postponing all the explanations in adolescence, it is better for you to start the discussion on the development of the male and female body when the children are still small.
To build trust and constructively guide them in understanding this topic, let the boys know that they can ask questions about anything
Step 2. Respond to their curiosity
Young children are extremely curious and attentive. A boy may notice a sanitary napkin in the garbage can or see his mother buying tampons when shopping at the grocery store. Even if you don't have to go into detail with very young children (3-6 years), consider their curiosity in a positive way, not as something that embarrasses those who ask and those who answer.
- If a child asks you "What is this?" referring to a hygiene product during your menstrual cycle, respond by calling that item by name (tampon, sanitary pad, menstrual cup, and so on). You can add by saying, "It's something women use to keep their bodies clean."
- As kids get older, they may be asking more and more complex questions about the physiological process of menstruation or the conception of babies. Use your judgment when you need to explain something so that you don't overwhelm them with unsolicited or unnecessary notions.
Step 3. Don't avoid answering questions
Children have an innate talent for asking personal and rather sensitive questions among people or at times that are not appropriate for an adult. If they ask you about menstruation, don't delay replying by saying that you will talk about it later or at home, or you will give the impression that it is an embarrassing topic. Even if other people are nearby, express yourself casually. Try to respond at that moment.
If the question caught you off guard or if your answer was not comprehensive, consider resuming the discussion later, even the same evening
Step 4. Adjust your answers according to the child's maturity level
Adequate considering what stage of development he is in and his emotional maturity. Imagine what concepts he can understand and how you can explain them over and over. Keep in mind that the discourse on the menstrual cycle is only one piece of the most important topic that concerns sexual development and education. By dividing it into smaller, more manageable explanations around puberty, you can stimulate your baby's growth and maturation.
- Don't complicate the answers. Speak simply and avoid using unintelligible metaphors (such as "uncle river" or "red sea"), especially if you are dealing with small children.
- Give all the necessary information to satisfy their curiosity. However, don't overdo it by overwhelming them with information even before they ask you.
