Growing up means having to face changes and start to
make choices in our lives, these affect us differently
either on an individual basis or with the people closest
to us. As we are growing up changes or sometimes called
'puberty' starts in our bodies along with changes to
how we feel and emotions. It is good to know certain
things about these changes to help you understand why
they happen.
Remember everyone goes through these changes but not
at the same time. Something you experience may not happen
to your friend till later. We are all individuals and
develop at different times and rates, that's normal.
These changes start usually between ages of 8 and 14
for girls and between ages of 10 and 16 for boys. These
changes are all part of growing up, its about our bodies
and minds starting to change from being children to
being adults. Between the ages of nine and 17 different
hormones (oestrogen in girls and testosterone in boys)
are produced by our bodies, these start the whole process
off. Changes begin to appear inside and outside our
bodies.
(Pick up a great leaflet '4 BOYS'
from local clinic)
What changes?
Parts of his body that make it possible for him to become
a father now start to work:
Testes and penis start to grow larger
Start to grow more quickly and shoulders become
broader
Voice becomes deeper Hair grows around penis; face,
under arms and later on the chest
The hormone produced starts to make the testes start
to make sperm
Start to have more erections (normal part of growing
up)
May have wet dreams (when semen (sperm in fluid)
comes out of penis during sleep at night)
