What resources can I use to help my child with additional needs comprehend the upcoming changes associated with puberty?
Children with autism and other additional needs can have difficulty understanding only verbal information. The Special Girls’ Business books published by SGB Publishing are available in our Sensory Resource Store and aim to provide both written and visual information to cater to everyone’s learning preferences. These books are designed to cater to both boys and girls with special needs, as well as typically developing children. These books serve as a valuable resource, offering support to parents and carers by using simpler language and visuals to explain these concepts to their child.
What books on puberty are currently available for purchase?
- Special Girls’ Business – This book has been written for girls with special needs. It takes girls and their carers through the process of managing periods
- Puberty and Special Girls – This book has been written for girls with special needs. It helps girls adjust to the changes experienced at puberty.
- Secret Girls’ Business – This book helps young girls understand the changes they go through when reaching puberty. Includes more written language and detailed visuals
- More Secret Girls’ Business – A companion volume to Secret Girls’ Business above and gives the reader a deeper knowledge about puberty and sexuality.
- Special Boys’ Business – This book has been written for boys with special needs. It supports boys, their parents and carers through the changes experienced at puberty.
- Secret Boys Business – Includes details about physical and emotional changes of puberty. Includes more written language than Special Boys’ Business but also includes the visuals.
At what age should I be discussing puberty with my child?
Discussing puberty is an ongoing dialogue rather than a single discussion. Engage in conversations with your children about the physical changes they will experience as they mature. It’s important to note that puberty can begin as early as 8 years old for some girls and 9 years old for some boys. All children, regardless of their abilities, require information about their bodies and reassurance that the changes they undergo are normal. These books not only provide children with reassurance and essential knowledge in an enjoyable manner but also offer parents and caregivers valuable tips and guidance.
How can these resources benefit my child?
These books offer comprehensive insights into the physical and emotional changes encountered during puberty, fostering a complete understanding in children. Moreover, they strive to boost confidence and self-esteem during a period when children often feel insecure and less assured about their bodies. Additionally, these puberty books aim to acknowledge and validate the emergence of sexual feelings that your child may be going through.
Approaching such a sensitive topic with your child can be difficult and these books aim to provide children, parents and carers with the strategies to understand puberty in an appropriate and inclusive manner. An invaluable resource to prepare your child, click here to browse the wide selection of books and explore the hundreds of sensory resources available at Autism Advisory and Support Service.
