Maybe talking to children and young adults about bodies, growing-up and sex and can seem daunting and make you nervous but it is something that we should be trying to weave into conversations as much as possible and into our everyday lives. This way it can help prevent feelings of awkwardness and embarrassment and hopefully shape more confident and healthy children and adults.
To assist the conversation and open up disscusion we have selected a few books that we feel may help:
Let's Talk by Robie H. Harris and illustrated by Michael Emberley
Great for ages 4-11
Young children ask so many questions about their bodies and how they were made. With lively language, engaging art and clear, accurate information, this book answers those perfectly normal questions and will help even pre-school children feel proud and comfortable about their own bodies. An invaluable resource for parents, teachers, librarians and health professionals to use with children.
Questions and Answers about Growing Up by Katie Daynes and Illustrated by Shelly Laslo
Great for ages 4-11
What’s the point of belly buttons? When will my voice go deep? Why do I have to go to bed? Curious children can find out about growing up and puberty, hormones, periods, shaving and much more in this entertaining book with over 60 flaps to lift. There are helpful tips on coping with growing up, and links to websites with more information, too.
How Big is Our Baby? by Smriti Prasadam-Halls and Britta Teckentrup
Perfect for 2-6 year olds
The first time a child may realise about growing bodies and changes is when a sibling is due or a friend or relative becomes pregnant, so we thought this fantastic book about the arrival of a baby to the family is a perfect addition to a home library. When a new baby is on the way, siblings-to-be have lots of feelings and plenty of questions. But whether they’re impatient, curious or a little worried, this friendly and reassuring guide explains each step of the pregnancy journey and helps little ones feel involved and excited. With a month-by-month approach that compares the size of the growing baby to something familiar to the young reader, such as a speck of sand at the seaside or an egg, readers also find out about how Baby is developing, from when the heart might first beat to when they’ll be able to feel it kick. The book also includes information about how life might change once Baby arrives, and how exciting it will be to have a new baby brother or sister.
Help Your Kids With Growing Up by various authors
Perfect for 10+
Covering everything from the menstrual cycle to sexting and even cyber-bullying, this visual guide to puberty and adolescence is a must-read for all parents and tweens embarking on those scary teenage years.
Help Your Kids with Growing Up is a contemporary guide to issues such as internet safety, whilst also tackling key topics such as sexuality and body image. Superb graphics and illustrations make this invaluable for tweens and teens alike, whether as a quick-reference guide or cover-to-cover read. Non-judgemental and up to date, this is the essential illustrated guide to adolescence for both parents and their teens. We recommend this is kept on an accessible bookshelf all the time.