How To Give Your Daughter Period Education

As a mother, you have so many responsibilities towards your daughter. You are her first teacher, her friend, caregiver, problem-solver and someone she can safely confide in. When you play so many crucial roles in her life, it automatically becomes your duty to give her period education too. After all, menstruation is a normal biological process that every woman experiences. And one day your teenage daughter will also have to go through it. So, if you want her to not be afraid of something so natural and even beautiful if you think about it, then you need to wear another hat of being her first-period guide.

What is Period Education

When nearly half of the entire world’s population is or would experience periods, it is only sensible to timely educate your child about it. This is necessary to prepare her for periods so there is no embarrassment, confusion or nervousness regarding it. Thus, teaching all about the actual menstrual process, why it happens, what to do when it happens and the like, falls under menstrual education.

Why is Period Education Important

Every woman goes through the process of menstruation. But still, there are a lot of stigmas associated with it and a lot of shame which is not only unfair but a hindrance to her personal growth. This is why period education is so important to overcome such emotions and embrace your own body. Apart from this, it is also necessary in order to prepare your daughter for what’s inevitable so that she can deal with her first period with confidence and without discomfiture, guilt or horror.

When to Educate Your Daughter about Periods

Since menstruation usually starts at around the age of 8 to 10 years, you need to give her her first period guide around that time so she can be ready for it.

How to Begin the ‘Talk’

Menstrual education is a very sensitive but significant topic that you must discuss with your daughter. You can take her out on a special mother-daughter day and ease her into it with gentle and empathetic words. Do not rush the topic or brush off her curiosity. Instead, patiently and choosing appropriate words, answer all her questions in a cogent manner. Also, note that you first need to be ready for the talk yourself and be confident and casual about it. This is important because you do not want to reflect your discomfort or shame regarding the topic or else that’s what your daughter will absorb too. You need to make her confident and proud about her own body and accept menstruation as just a natural process rather than a taboo.

What Should Period Education Cover

When educating your daughter about menstruation, include only age-appropriate information. For eg., If you are teaching this to your 8-year-old daughter then you can tell them about what happens during periods and things like how to use a sanitary pad, but for now, leave out why menstruation occurs. You can tell them about the latter part when they reach their teenage years.

Typically menstrual education must consist of the following:

What is a period and why does it occur?

Include the actual experience during menstruation, PMS symptoms, and if she is old enough to understand, the biological reason behind it.

When does someone’s period start?

Include signs of puberty and the approximate time of getting the first period.

What are the different types of menstrual products?

Introduction to different menstrual hygiene products including pads and tampons etc.

How to use sanitary napkins?

Show her how to use a sanitary napkin as it is the first-period product that she would be using.

What to do when your first period starts?

If she has already started showing signs of puberty, let her always be prepared with a pad and a change of underwear in her bag. Ask her to stay calm at the time and use the bathroom to clean herself and use the pad.

Why is menstrual hygiene vital?

Make her aware of the adverse effects of poor menstrual hygiene and teach her how to stay clean and healthy during this time.

Why is taking pride and caring for your body important?

Being a mother, especially to a girl, this should always be on your teaching list but use this time to stress on the topic more as young girls often begin having body image issues around puberty.

Conclusion

Now that you know how valuable period education is in building your daughter’s personality, go ahead and have that talk with her. This is extremely important and your responsibility as a loving and caring mother.