Puberty & Growing Up

Articles In This Section

• Girls and Puberty

  Girls have lots of questions about puberty and growing up. Find all the answers here!

• Video: Am I Normal? (Girls and Puberty)

  Girls have lots of questions about the body changes of puberty, especially about breasts and first periods. Watch this video to get some answers!

• Kids Talk About: Crushes (Video)

  What's it like to have a crush? Hear what real kids had to say.

• Video: Study Break Yoga

  Time to take a study break! Stretch out, unwind, and refresh so you can get back to your homework.

• Yoga for Lowering Stress

  Yoga uses calming breathing and feel-good stretches to relax you. Find out more and give it a try.

• Will Toothpaste Make a Pimple Go Away?

  Some people say toothpaste will clear up a pimple. Does it work or will it make the pimple worse? Let's find out.

• How to Pick a Great Book to Read

  If you find yourself overwhelmed when choosing a book, check out these 5 simple steps to picking a book you'll like.

• The Pink Locker Society

  Meet Jemma and her friends in The Pink Locker Society. It's a book series and website for girls curious about growing up. Great advice about periods, bras, and boys!

• Period Stories: Meet Rachel Kauder Nalebuff

  Rachel Kauder Nalebuff collected 92 stories from women about periods. Find out more in this article for kids.

• Your Online Identity

  This article is for you if you IM and like to create your own characters in virtual worlds. Find out about your online identity and how to protect it.

• Five Steps to Better Handwriting

  Writing is a skill you learn over time. Find out how your body and mind does this complicated task and how to get better at it.

• Helping a Parent Who Smokes

  You love your mom and dad, but what if they smoke? Find out how you can help them be healthier.

• PQ: What if one of my breasts is bigger than the other?

  Find out the answer to this personal question!

• PQ: Why don’t any girls like me?

  Find out the answer to this personal question!

• PQ: How do I tell my mom I need a bra?

  Find out the answer to this personal question!

• PQ: I have hair on the nipples of my breasts. Is that normal?

  Find out the answer to this personal question!

• PQ: Can bras cause breast cancer?

  Find out the answer to this personal question!

• PQ: Why don’t any boys like me?

  Learn the answer to this personal question!

• PQ: Should girls wear a bra at night?

  Find out the answer to this personal question!

• PQ: I heard that some bras make your breasts stop growing. Is that true?

  Find out the answer to this personal question!

• PQ: Can breasts be injured?

  Find out the answer to this personal question!

• When Can I “Go Out” With Someone?

  Do you have a boyfriend or girlfriend? Find out when most kids start "going out" and what that means.

• When Can I Shave My Legs?

  If you're noticing hair on your legs, you might want to start shaving. When do most girls start?

• Feeling Too Tall or Too Short

  How do you like your height? Check out this article if you feel too tall or too short.

• Kids Talk About: Love

  If you've ever felt embarrassed because you have a crush on someone, you're not alone. Lots of kids say they have turned bright red over the same issue. Find out more in this article for kids.

• Period Cramps

  Cramps can put a crimp in a girl's daily routine. Find out what period cramps are and how to handle them.

• Five Things Girls Want to Know About Periods

  Girls have lots of questions about periods. Here are five good ones - and the all-important answers!

• Changing Your Hair

  Kids who are getting older might think about changing their hairstyle. Find out more about hair, haircuts, and styles in this article.

• Pierced Ears

  Lots of kids are interested in piercing their ears - or just one of them.

• What Kids Say About: Tobacco

  Everyone knows tobacco is unhealthy, but what do kids think about it? We asked 1,433 kids to give us their opinions.

• For Boys: Trouble “Down There”

  Boys might feel embarrassed if they get hurt or have a health problem "down there." Find out more in this article for kids.

• Getting Muscles

  Kids might wish for bigger muscles, but that kind of grown-up muscle isn't possible until a kid is older. Find out more in this article for kids.

• What’s Vaginal Discharge?

  Having vaginal discharge is a normal part of puberty for girls.

• Pads and Tampons

  When a girl gets her period, she'll need some supplies. Find out more in this article for kids.

• Do Periods Ever End?

  Lots of girls wait for their periods to start, but do they ever stop? Find out in this article for kids.

• Why Do Feet Stink?

  Your hard-working feet sometimes start stinking. Find out why in this article for kids.

• Girls, Boys, and Valentine’s Day

  Why do girls seem to like mushy stuff - like Valentine's Day - more than boys? Find out more in this article for kids.

• Boys and Puberty

  On the way to becoming a man, a boy's body will go through a lot of changes, including your body growing bigger, your voice changing, and hair sprouting everywhere. Find out more.

• Getting Your Period at School

  Lots of girls worry what to do if they get their periods at school. Find out more in this article for kids.

• Shaving

  Why do people shave? How do they do it? Read this article for the scoop on shaving.

• What Kids Say About: Drinking Alcohol

  What do kids think about drinking alcohol? KidsHealth wanted to know, so we asked 690 kids ages 9 to 13.

• Backpacks

  A backpack is an essential item for a kid in school, but they can cause injuries. Find out how to prevent your backpack from becoming a real pain.

• School Lunches

  Lunch is a great part of the school day. Find out why what you eat can rev you up - or slow you down - for the afternoon ahead.

• Your Changing Voice

  Both boys and girls experience voice changes as they grow older, but it's the boys that will notice the biggest difference. Find out more in this article for kids.

• What Kids Say About: Weight

  We wanted to know what kids have to say about weight problems, so we asked more than 1,000 boys and girls. Find out what they said.

• Breasts and Bras

  Girls grow breasts as they develop and mature. And once a girl has breasts, she probably will want to wear a bra. Find out more in this article just for kids.

• Acne

  If you're almost a teen, chances are pretty good that you have some acne. About 8 in 10 preteens and teens have acne, along with many adults.

• Crushes

  Just as our bodies grow and mature, so do our feelings. Having a crush on someone is one sign that you're growing up. It can be fun - and sometimes disappointing.

• Acne Myths

  Acne - also called pimples or zits - is a perfectly normal part of growing up. Learn more in this article for kids.

• Body Mass Index (BMI)

  Body mass index (BMI) is a calculation that uses your height and weight to estimate how much body fat you have. BMI, although not a perfect method for judging someone's weight, is often a good way to check on how a kid is growing.

• What You Need to Know About Drugs: Ecstasy

  Ecstasy is a dangerous drug that can cause hallucinations. Read more about this drug in our article just for kids.

• What You Need to Know About Drugs: GHB

  GHB, gamma hydroxybutyrate, is a popular club drug that can be deadly. Learn more about the dangers of GHB in this article for kids.

• When Will I Get My Period?

  It's normal to be a little worried or anxious about getting your period. Find out more in this article for kids.

• Alcohol

  Do you know how beer and other alcoholic drinks affect the body and mind? Find out in this article for kids.

• What You Need to Know About Drugs

  Drugs are chemicals that change the way a person's body works. Some drugs help you feel better, but drugs also can harm you. Learn more in this article for kids.

• What You Need to Know About Drugs: Inhalants

  Inhalants such as glue are sniffed or huffed to give the user a high. Doing this even once can kill you. Learn more in this article for kids.

• Dealing With Bullies

  No one likes a bully. Find out how to handle them in this article for kids.

• Going Back to School

  There's a lot of "new" in the first day of school. New teachers, new friends, new shoes, new notebooks, and sometimes, a new school. Find out more about going back to school in this article for kids.

• What to Do if You Don’t Like School

  Everyone has a bad day at school once in a while, but some kids really don't like school. Read this article for kids to find out more.

• I’m Growing Up – But Am I Normal?

  When you're growing up, lots of changes happen and everyone wonders: Am I normal?

• How to Handle Abuse

  Child abuse is never OK. Find out more in this article for kids.

• Getting Homework Help

  Homework, homework, homework. How do you get it done? Get some tips in this article for kids.

• Running Away

  Have you ever thought of running away? It can be a dangerous decision. Find out more in this article for kids.

• The Real Deal on Repeating a Grade

  Do you know anyone who has repeated a grade? Find out why this happens in this article for kids.

• Growth Disorders

  Everyone grows and matures differently. Usually, this is totally normal. A growth disorder, however, means that a kid has abnormal growth - for example, growing a lot slower or a lot faster than other kids the same age.

• All About Puberty

  Voice cracking? Clothes don't fit? Puberty can be a confusing time, but learning about it doesn't have to be. Read all about it in this article for kids.

• The Reality of Retainers

  Retainers are really common. In fact, most kids have to wear a retainer for at least a little while after getting their braces taken off. Find out more.

• Braces

  Braces are a fact of life for many kids. Find out how they work and how to take care of them.

• What’s an Adam’s Apple?

  Where's your Adam's apple? Do you even have one? Find out in this article for kids.

• What You Need to Know About Drugs: Methamphetamines

  Methamphetamines are a dangerous kind of drug that speeds up a person's body and brain. Learn more in this article for kids.

• What You Need to Know About Drugs: Marijuana

  Marijuana is the most widely used illegal drug in the United States. Get the facts about it in this article for kids.

• What You Need to Know About Drugs: LSD

  LSD is a dangerous hallucinogenic drug. Find out more in this article for kids.

• What You Need to Know About Drugs: Heroin

  Heroin is a very addictive and dangerous drug. Learn more in this article for kids.

• What You Need to Know About Drugs: Depressants

  Depressants are a dangerous drug if used the wrong way. Find out more in this article for kids.

• What You Need to Know About Drugs: Cocaine and Crack

  Cocaine and crack are dangerous drugs that produce a fast, intense high. Find out more in this article for kids.

• All About Menstruation

  Getting a period is a natural part of being a woman. Find out more in this article for kids.