Note: I thought these articles were worth sharing and repeating.
When your Special Needs Daughter Gets her Period
[Source: Friendship Circle Blog]
From the time my daughter was born with Down syndrome thirteen years ago, my biggest concern was what would happen when she got her period. I have learned over the years that I am not alone when it comes to parental worry on this subject.
Let me stress up front that I am not a medical professional in any capacity so what I am going to share with you should not trump your doctor’s recommendations; I am simply sharing my journey and providing some helpful hints.
When your daughter gets her period
Learn your school’s and nurse’s clinic’s menstruation policy
I know this sounds absolutely crazy, but this is huge. In our school district, the nurses will not provide pads or help your daughter put a pad on her underwear. They will also not accompany your daughter into the bathroom for any reason, even if she has special needs.
Read the rest of this article ––> Friendship Circle [1]
Preparing for the “Monthly Visitor”
Tips from mothers that have already been through it.
My daughter has not yet becomes a young lady, but, the thought of her starting to menstruate does send a bit of a shiver down my spine. How should I handle it? When should I begin talking about it? How will my daughter handle it? What new surprises may I now have to deal with? It’s tough on any young lady, let alone one with other challenges. So, I set out to ask other mothers that have already been through it with their daughters to share their experiences and provide any tips that would help guide me and ease my fears. Just being able to hear/read how another parent handled it put some of my fears to rest. I now feel that I, at least, have a game plan. Below are a set of questions, along with answers, that were asked of mothers who children have different disabilities. Because of the sensitivity of this article, names have been changed to protect the privacy of all.
PSN: When did you start talking about menstruation with your special needs daughter? What did you say? How did you explain it?
Read the rest of this article ––> ”Monthly Visitor” [2]
Puberty and Your Child with Autism
[Source: Ability Path.org ]
At a parent group meeting, a mother asked “since my daughter’s mental age is about a third grade level, why is she starting her period? This doesn’t seem possible.” All children go through puberty regardless of IQ or social skills. The brain does not tell the body to stop growing if the boy or girl’s developmental level is younger than their age. Puberty is a stage of development just like moving from being an infant to a toddler. Puberty is considered to begin around age 12 for girls and age 14 for boys. The physical changes of puberty are centered on the development of secondary characteristics and the onset of menstruation (in girls) and ejaculation (in boys).
For Girls
The physical changes usually begin between ages 7 and 14. Girls begin to have growth spurts, develop breasts, pubic and underarm hair, and have vaginal discharge. It becomes increasingly important to have good hygiene by taking a shower or bath each day, washing your hair, underarms, and vaginal area. A girls menstruation (period) usually follows within a year or two of these changes. The average age a girl starts menstruating is around 12 or 13 but some girls start as early as 9 and others are as late as 17 (Strong, DeVault, Sayad & Yarber, 2005).
Read the rest of this article ––> ”Puberty and Your Child with Autism” [3]
Helpful Articles
- Puberty Help! Great Books to Help You with Questions and Challenges [4]
- Puberty and Hygiene: How to Support Our Children [5]
- Puberty Tips for You and Your Special Needs Daughter [6]
- 5 Lifesaving Tests for Women [7]
- Spa Day [8]
- 4 Features of Total Fitness: The Foundations of Better Living [9]
- Simple Finds: Encouraging Good Hygiene & Independence [10]
- Safe and Easy Bathing with Lathermitts, Because Bath Time is Supposed to Be Fun [11]
You May Also Like
- Sex Education: Teaching the most vulnerable [12]
- Sex Education for Special Needs Children [13]
- The Importance of Teaching Children Body Safety [14]
- Digital Safety: An Ongoing Conversation [15]
- Judgment and the Teenage Brain [16]