Middle Childhood and Teens Resources
The next critical developmental period in children's lives is middle childhood (ages 6 to 12). During this stage of child development, children begin to explore hobbies and interests through the refinement of fine motor skills through activities such as dressing themselves, drawing, riding bikes, and playing sports. Their cognitive development is also rapidly expanding as they quickly develop from learning basic copying of letters to reading and writing short stories. During this time, socialization becomes increasingly crucial to the child as they explore friendships and begin their journey away from the family unit for relationships.
Every child is different and some begin to experience body and hormone changes during middle childhood and some don't begin to visible enter puberty until their teen years. During the teen years, youth begin exploring identities through exploring their own interests, exploring relationships and sexuality, and experiencing external pressure. Some forms of societal or peer pressure can lead to substance use, eating disorders, and negative impacts on general well-being. Often mood disorders and mental health concerns become more apparent. To learn more about common mental and behavioral challenges during middle childhood to teens click over to our Mental and Behavioral Health library.
Electronic Resources
Websites
Physical Development: What's Normal? What's Not? Healthy Children covers the changes that happen to children's bodies and minds during puberty and when to contact your health care provider.
Guide to Teaching about Puberty by Age. Planned Parenthood provides age-appropriate resources for talking to children about puberty.
Helping Your Child Cope with Early Puberty. WebMD provides helpful tools for talking to children about puberty beginning at age 6.
Talking to Young Children about Gender. Gender Spectrum provides an overview of how to have gender-inclusive conversations with children.
What Puberty is like as an Intersex Person. Clue provides a personal story of an intersex young person going through puberty as a teaching tool to support children who don't fit within sex and gender norms.
Podcast
How to Talk to Kids about Puberty. The New Family Podcast provides a 30-minute podcast about how to talk to kids about sex, love, and relationships.
Additional Readings
Fact Sheets
Center for Disease Control's Positive Parenting Tips for ages 6-8.
Center for Disease Control's Positive Parenting Tips for ages 9-11.
Center for Disease Control's Positive Parenting Tips for ages 12-14.
Center for Disease Control's Positive Parenting Tips for ages 15-17.
Delayed Puberty: What Parents Need to Know. The Hormone Health Network created a 2-page handout on delayed puberty and signs of when to seek medical support.
Books
Today's Parent recommendation of eight best books about puberty for boys.
Today's Parent recommendation of nine best books about puberty for girls.
Videos and Podcasts
TEDed video with Emma Bryce explaining how hormones work.
Additional Video Libraries
Menstruation Resources
Electronic Resources
Websites
Puberty 101: The Clue guide to getting your period. Clue reviews common biological changes that occur with menstruation. And don't miss Puberty 101: Part 2.
Making a DIY Period Kit for School.
Girls with Autism Growing up: Preparing for Menstruation. Autism Awareness Centre Inc. covers tips for success menstruation transitions for children with Autism.
How Do I Talk About Periods with My Non-Binary Kid? My Kid is Gay gives five tips for supporting non-binary youth who have begun menstruation.
Apps
Additional Readings
Fact Sheets
Top Questions about Your Menstrual Cycle. The Office of Women's Health reviews common questions about menstruation.
Books
Healthy Sexuality Resources
Electronic Resources
Websites
Tips for Talking: When should I start talking with my kid about sex and relationships? Planned Parenthood offers tips for starting and engaging youth in honest conversations about sex and relationships.
How to talk to your kids about sex: An age-by-age guide. Today's Parent provides the birth to age 18 guide to talking to children about body anatomy and sexuality.
Masturbation and Young Children. Michigan Medicine Gateway discusses what is normal masturbation in young children and how to keep masturbation appropriate and safe.
Additional Readings
Fact Sheets
Talking with Your Teen about Sex: Going Beyond "the Talk". Center for Disease Control gives tips, suggested topics, and a list of additional resources for talking about sex.
Sexual Health Promotion with Young People of Diverse Gender and Sexuality.
Sexual Health Promotion with Aboriginal Young People.
Articles
When and How to Talk to Kids about Sex. Psychology Today provides five short tips for talking with youth about sex.
How to Talk to Kids about Sex. Washington Post runs interviews experts to find the best tips for talking about sexuality with kids.
An Overview of Healthy Childhood Sexual Development. National Sexual Violence Resource Center breakdowns healthy sexual development by age.
Sexual Development and Behavior in Children. National Child Traumatic Stress Network explores sexual development in children.
Books
Amazon's best selling books about teen and young adult sexuality.
Videos and Podcasts
Videos
Sex Ex School offers strategies for talking about consent and sexual development with children.
Amaze offers a video library on relationships and sexual development.
TEDx video Talking to Kids about Sex in the Time of #metoo.
Bill Nye on Sexuality and Gender Spectrum.
Podcast
NPR Life Kit podcast: The Birds and the Bees - How to Talk to Children about Sex.