Your child may be a pre-adolescent right now, but puberty is quickly approaching. Help your child prepare for this upcoming time before it begins. Getting your preteen ready now will make the actual transition just a little bit easier for both of you.
Open the Lines of Communication
Approximately half of teenagers say that it’s hard to talk to their parents about topics related to sex. Although you may not be able to remove this discomfort entirely, you can pave the way by encouraging open communication with your preteen now. Your child needs to know that you are a safe source of information about puberty, sex, and other growing-up issues. Don’t shy away from discussing tough topics with your kids, and assure them that they can come to you about anything.
Set a Good Example
As your kids grow up, they’re going to take on more and more of the responsibility for their personal well being. You can encourage healthy habits by setting a good example. Studies show that kids are more likely to maintain a healthy weight over the long term if they and their parents engage in weight loss together. You can facilitate this by modeling healthy food choices and getting regular exercise. Other ways to set an example for your kids are to drink alcohol only in moderation and to avoid tobacco and drugs.
Build Confidence
The puberty years can rattle your child’s self-esteem. By helping your preteen discover good confidence-builders now, he or she will have a reservoir to draw from during the transition to adolescence. One idea is to find a skill that your child can hone, such as martial arts, drawing, or music. Improving in one of those areas may help him become more confident overall. Developing a support system that includes positive, caring adults can be helpful as well.
Encourage New Habits
Sometimes it seems like hygiene and appearance take a hit during the teen years. Kids start to be smellier, and they may experience acne breakouts. Encourage daily showering and face washing now so that those habits will be in place before puberty really hits. To keep acne from hitting full-force, start your child on a CBD oil routine now. You can offer oral supplements or topical products. The anti-inflammatory effects of CBD oil may tame breakouts or soothe redness.
Puberty can be both scary and exciting. Start preparing your child now so that you’ll both be ready when the time comes.
