By fifth and sixth grade, children's perspectives have expanded to the
point where they can consider the world around them, and to more
readily consider the perspectives and feelings of others. Sixth grade
of course, is a year of transition to junior high school, and seventh
grade is truly the beginning of a new era in your child's life.
This is when your child starts the road to adulthood. Puberty will
start now, at about age 12, although in recent decades it has become
more common for puberty to start early, in some cases as early as age
eight.
Puberty is often a tough time in a child's life, regardless of
what age it hits. Self-esteem can suffer, and behavior may change
dramatically.
It's a documented fact that puberty occurs earlier today than in the
past, although the cause is not definite. It may be because of modern
stimulants, artificial lighting, it may be dietary, or it may just be
our increasingly fast-paced world. Regardless, when early puberty
occurs in your child, it's time to be sensitive to the child's needs,
and seek the advice of a pediatrician. While in most cases early
puberty is now considered normal, there may be a few pituitary
conditions that can cause this early and rapid growth.
There are a great many good books available for children going through
puberty that helps to explain the changes they are going through.
However, for a young child of eight or nine that is going through early
puberty, these may not be age-appropriate, so be sure to look them over
before giving them to your child. However, beyond the books, you as a
parent are the child's most important resource, and if you've done your
job, they will turn to you for help, advice, and encouragement.
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