How to get your toddler to accept the new baby

The bun is in the oven..... again. You are expecting number 2 and will soon be a mother of 2. Will you have enough space in your heart to love another child? How can you get  your toddler to accept the new baby? These are questions that often race through the thoughts of a mother when she is expecting her second child.

Quite often, I get these question from mothers "Will I love my second child as much as my first child?" I always tell them that the more the merrier. The more children you have, the more chance you will have of receiving unconditional love, for that is the kind of love that children give. Unconditional love.

The more children you have, the more love you have to go around your house. Eventually they always come back to me and say "I never knew I had it in me to love another." It happens all the time. As a mother, you have the capacity to love as many children as you have.

However, what about your toddler? Will your toddler accept the new baby?

The key to acceptance is involvement. Involve your toddler every step of the way. Here are some ways you can involve your toddler in welcoming the new baby to your house.

• Bring your toddler along to doctor visits
• Show your toddler scans of the baby and explain to them where the head, hands etc are
• Let your toddler feel your bulging tummy and talk to baby
• Say "our" baby and "your" new brother or sister whenever referring to the baby
• If possible, bring toddler along to the hospital to take baby home

My toddler accepted her newborn baby brother with ease with her complete involvement every step of the way. We didn't have anyone to watch her while we were at hospital during the delivery, so we brought her along. She was there to see baby as soon as he was cleaned. She slept on a sleeping bag together with daddy in the hospital room while mummy was breastfeeding baby. All the nurses thought she was adorable, this little girl in pink who didn't mind sleeping on the sleeping bag. We had wanted a bigger room but it was unavailable so we had to make do with a sleeping bag and she thought it was rather fun to camp out. 

When we went home, our toddler went home along with us together with the newborn. We had our new extended family. Our toddler did not have to be separated from us during the process. She did not have to be taken care of by grandparents or aunts and wait anxiously at home for the newcomer to take over her position on the pedestal. She was part of it all. 

I can't repeat it often enough. The most important way to help your toddler accept the baby is to involve her every step of the way, whenever practical. Good luck and congratulations on your new extended family.

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Teaching Kids to Tell Time

Teaching Kids to Tell Time

Teaching Kids To Tell Time Can Be Really Interesting. Here Are A Few Online Telling Time Games And Worksheets To Help You Teach Children To Tell Time.

Melissa & Doug
Wooden Shape Sorting Clock
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Teaching Kids to Tell Time

One of the very first Maths kids learn is Telling Time. Teaching Kids to tell time is an important first step for a preschooler in learning Math. It is also an important living skill.

This lens will walk you through all the resources you can find online to teach kids to tell time. You will also find other valuable tools you can use to teach your toddler or preschooler to tell the time.

Teaching kids to tell time can be a fun activity. Just check out all the resources that are available to you.

Teaching Kids to Tell Time Online

at the Rainbow Centre

The Rainbow Centre is a centre to inspire and support children with Cerebral Palsy and adults with stroke, MS and Parkinson's disease and their families through a system of learning called Conductive Education. Children or participants are encouraged to take an active role in their own development to reach their full potential. In this manner they will learn new ways to become active and happy individuals who can be proud of their own achievement.

The Rainbow Centre's website has a wonderful Interactive Teaching Clock called Time Monsters to teach children to tell the time. Apart from the lessons and quizzes to teach children to tell the time, there are worksheets too.

Teach kids to tell the time with a Shape Sorting Clock - Kids Learn Through Play

Kids learn through play. A Shape Sorting Clock will help kids to learn numbers, which is the first important step towards telling time plus children can have fun sorting shapes in addition to learning how to tell the time.

Teaching Kids the Difference between an Analog Clock and a Digital Clock

How to compare and tell the difference in time between digital and radial time

These days we have many cute Digital Clocks for Kids to help children tell the time. It is a easy way to tell the time if your child knows his numbers well.

However, it does not help a child tell the time when looking at an analog clock which is very different and yet an important and must have skill for any child. This Interactive Digital and Analog Clock from kidsolr.com ought to help children compare digital and radial time.

Kidsolr.com also known as Kindergarten College or Kids Online Resources is a Directory for Parents, Families, Teens and Children.

Kids can Learn to Tell the Time with Lego - Cute Lego Clocks help kids tell the time in a fun way

As a good first step towards telling time for kids who have just learned their numbers, cute Lego clocks should do the trick!

A Cute Clock Will Get Your Child To Tell Time In No Time At All

These online telling time games will help kids to tell the time in five minute intervals, half hour intervals, 15 minute intervals etc. There are also games for more advanced learners who will be asked to predict the future time etc. Do check it out. These telling time games are terrific.

Disney Buzz Lightyear Lego Figure Alarm Clock
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Online Telling Time Games for Kids

Free Training Tutorial.com has a list of good links from various sites on Telling Time Games for Kids.

Some of the telling time games in the list includes:

1. Clock Face

2. Smiley Clock

3. Clockworks

4. Help Michael Teaches Time

5. Airport Flip Time

6. Bedtime Bandits

7. Clock Test

8. What Time Will it Be?

9. Stop the Clock

10. Cat and Mouse Time

11. Set the Time

12. What Time is It?

13. Set and Show the Time

14. Telling Time Bunny

15. Bang on Time

16. Digital and Analog Clocks

17. Time in Words and Digits

18. Matching Times

Telling Time Worksheets - Here are some free Telling Time Worksheets

• Fun Teaching.com
  Has telling time worksheets to half hour or to the hour and includes a create your own telling time worksheet
• Enchanted Learning.com
  Plenty of free Telling Time Worksheets, Games and Books here!
• Time for Time
  I like this one because it includes worksheets that you can customize before printing.
• Kids Learning Station
  Worksheets are divided into two sets. 1. Time Worksheets and 2. Clock Worksheets.
• ESL Kids Lab
  This time worksheet comes in a complete set in pdf format. I like the daily routines time worksheet.

s

Telling Time Story

for Advanced Learners

Bingo: Telling Time
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This Telling Time Story from Learn English Kids, a British Council Site is an interactive story about telling time. The story called "One Moment Around The World" is for advanced learners as readers will have to count time forwards and backwards.

Learn English Kids also has a nice Time Module to Teach Kids all about Time with time worksheets. time games. time songs, time stories and even a time craft for kids to print and make a clock.

Bingo Telling Time Game is a another great way for kids to practice telling time

Telling Time Bingo helps kids to build on their time telling skills. It can also double up as flash cards.

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Cooking Toys For Kids

Cooking Toys For Kids

Not sure what to buy for your child for Christmas? Try Cooking Toys. Kids will enjoy cooking toys as gifts because it gives them a chance to role play. Cooking Toys are for both boys and girls. There is no need to be gender biased in this case. Most kids like to imitate their mums, boys included.

In fact, my boy loves to play with their cooking toys more than his sister at one time. Then he moved on to cars. Now he is playing with his stationary, something he learned at school. Pencil lead boxes have become his latest craze. The pencil lead boxes turn into flying machines and whatever else his imagination takes him.

This post covers all types of cooking toys for kids, starting from kitchens, cookware, aprons and the food of course! Most kids will enjoy getting any of these toys as Christmas or Birthday gifts. If you are not sure what cooking toy to buy as a gift, browse this site to get some ideas.

Image Credit: Melissa & Doug Chef Costume Deluxe Role Play Set

Ideas For Cooking Toys For Kids As Gifts - When Buying Cooking Toys For Kids, You Can Use These Ideas

Cooking toys are loved by both boys and girls although sometimes gender biased makes it seem as though it is more suitable for girls. That is why most cooking toys are in pink or more girlish colors. This post features cooking toys for both girls and boys so careful thought is used when researching toys for both genders.

All items and ideas from this page come from different manufacturers to give you a better choice when selecting cooking toys for kids.

Start with a basic kitchen. This is the most expensive item for your cooking toy but it is a worthwhile one. A toy kitchen is useful to keep kids busy while mummy cooks. Creative parents can make their own kitchens with recycled boxes.

Once you have the kitchen, or if you prefer not to have a kitchen due to space constraints and budget, consider cookware. Pots and pans and spoons and ladles are great gifts for kids and don't cost very much. Young kids may prefer colorful ones while older kids will probably enjoy pots and pans that look like the real ones mummy is using in the kitchen. Get stainless steel or wooden cookware toys for older kids.

For families which do a lot of baking, get baking toys instead of pots and pans. This will allow the child to imitate mummy or daddy and role play at being a bakery shop owner.

Once you have got some basic cooking toys in place, get your child an apron or a chef's hat or costume so they can dress the part as they play. This is really fun for a child and a good gift item to add to their cooking toys.

Next, you will need toy food of course. To encourage healthy choices in food by kids, get fruits and vegetables, cakes and cookies for those who enjoy baking or fast food just for fun. Other foods include meats and desserts as well.

Finally, your child will need utensils and toy plates, bowls, cups and other dish play sets to serve all of that food they just cooked up!

First, You Will Need A Kitchen - KidKraft Grand Gourmet Kitchen

If you can afford it, the first cooking toy your child should have is a kitchen. A kitchen is the best way a kid can learn to role play.

If you can afford it and if you have the space, get a kitchen like your own, to put just outside your own kitchen. This way, your child can play his or her cooking games while you are busy preparing your meals.

This KidKraft Grand Gourmet Corner Kitchen is a good example. It is a little to pink for boys to use.

Many boys would like to have their own kitchen too. It is okay to let them play with it. You can consider some other not so feminine looking ones for boys.

KidKraft Grand Gourmet Kitchen - A Very Beautiful Kitchen Toy For Little Girls


KidKraft Grand Gourmet Corner Kitchen BUY NOW!

It has most things a regular kitchen has, a dishwasher, oven, freezer and microwave. It even has a telephone and a message board on the freezer just like the real kitchen that mummy has.

Plus it comes with a pot, a pan and two spatulas.

All the doors open and close and the knobs turn and click. The kitchen sink can be removed for maintenance and cleaning.

Ignore gender stereotyping. Who says boys can't and won't like playing cooking games?

Here's A Kitchen Toy Boys Can Use. - This Toy Kitchen Is Modern And Can Be Used To Role Play Cooking In The House Or A Restaurant


Melissa & Doug Cook's Corner Wooden Kitchen BUY NOW!

This very modern looking toy kitchen is equipped with 3 burners, an oven and a refrigerator. It has knobs that turns and clicks like the real thing.

It also has storage shelves, a cutting board and a real working timer.

Mummy can borrow the timer if she loses hers.

You've Got Your Kitchen, Next You Will Need Some Cookware, Some Pots And Pans Or Bakeware - I Personally Prefer Stainless Steel Or Wooden Ones That Look Like The Real Thing


Just Like Home 11 Piece Stainless Steel Cookware Set BUY NOW!


The Just Like Home 11 Piece Stainless Steel Cookware Set Stainless Steel or Wooden Toy Pots And Pans look very realistic and are perfect as a gift for a child who enjoys role playing.

However, if you are buying a first cooking set gift for a very young child, you can consider the colorful plastic cookware toys for kids which may be more appealing to them. You know your child best.

Baking Toys For Kids Can Be Considered For The Mum Who Likes To Bake Or For Families Who Do A Lot of Baking At Home - Remember That Children Love To Imitate You


Step 2 Cooking Essentials 20 pieces Baking Set

If you do a lot of baking at home, then get your child a baking set as a cooking toy.


Step2 Cooking Essentials 20 pieces Baking Set BUY NOW!

Chef Costume For Kids To Role Play In - You've Got Your Toy Kitchen, You've Got Cookware And Bakeware Toys, Not Its Time To Dress For The Part In A Kids Chef Co


Kidkraft : Tasty Treats - Pink Chef Accessory Set BUY NOW!

Another 'cooking toy' to consider as a gift would be the chef's costume for role playing. Unlike other costumes, a chef's costume or child's apron is easy to put on and can be used at any time for playing when mummy is cooking.

Kids Apron Play Set - When Buying An Apron As A Gift For A Child, Get One That Comes With Some Kitchen Accessories

This kids apron pretend play set comes with an apron, a pot holder, an oven mitten, a chef's hat plus a mixing spoon and spatula.

Everything a little chef needs to play cooking. It may even look better than mummy's apron and oven mitt set!

Get An All Inclusive Food Play Set Like This For Kids Or Group Them Into Separate Food Groups - One Popular Group Is Fast Food Toys But Do Remember To Include Healthy Foods Too To Make It Educational


KidKraft Tasty Treats Pretend Food Play BUY NOW!

In the picture above, is an all inclusive 125 pieces food toy set which comes with canned food and drinks, meat, vegetables, fast food, dessert, everything inclusive for hours of pretend play.

The food toys below are for fast foods.


Pizza Party BUY NOW!

Finally It's Time To Serve All That Food The Child Has Cooked Using Pretend Dinnerware Toys For Kids - This Red Dinnerware and Chef Set Can Be Used By Boys And Girls



CP Toys Chef Costume & Metal Dinnerware 23 Pc. Set w/ Plates, Cups, and Silverware for Four BUY NOW!

Due to gender stereotyping its hard to find cooking toys suitable for toys. However, throughout this post I have tried to include cooking toys that boys can play with too and this is one of them.

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Personalized Labels For Kids

Personalized Labels For Kids, whether in the form of stickers, iron-on labels, printed names or write on are essential to organize a kids stuff especially when they go to school. Here are some. 

Personalized Labels for Kids

Girls Personalized Butterfly 
Name Label Stickers
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Personalized Labels for kid or custom labels are a necessity that keeps me sane. That little piece of label that I stick onto my kids shoes, school bags, school uniforms, tumblers, lunch boxes and more help me organize my children's clothes and stationery easily. I recommend it to any mum with school going kids. It is a must have.


This week my son lost his sweater again. Imagine that, not a pencil or an eraser but a sweater! He forgot his tumbler twice and lost numerous stationery. When I go to the school to help him search for him, I get lost in a sea of similar looking school bags and tumblers. Every child wants to have the latest cartoon bags and other stationery. They all look the same. If I don't label them, I will never be able to find them.

Its the same with their shoes. I label their shoes so they can easily find their pair of shoes since they have to remove them when they enter the carpeted school library. They will never find their shoes among the sea of white school shoes without our custom shoe labels.

This post is all about the custom labels and personalized labels for kids that is essential to organize your household and your kids stuff and keep you sane.

Personalized Kids 
Cartoon Character Stickers 

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Personalized Cartoon Stickers for Kids - Personalized Stickers do not have to be boring!

Personalized Cartoon Stickers

These days you can get personalized stickers in cute designs and cartoons to make labeling fun. Stick personalized cartoon stickers onto pencil cases, water bottles, mugs and anything else that belongs to your child to help you find them easily. Your child will love them too.

It helps you find your child's belongings in school. At home, you can personalize each child's items for them to make them feel a sense of belonging and instill a sense of pride for their things. Use that sense of pride to teach them to care for their stuff.

Iron On Labels for Garments

Iron-On Labels -
Personalized Clothing Labels
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You can't stick stickers onto garments of your child's clothing so a specialized iron on label would help you label school uniforms, gym uniforms and other uniforms of clubs and associations that belong to him or her.

Some iron on labels come with specialized permanent laundry-proof markers that won't stain your clothes.

These are great for making sure that your child's clothes do not get mixed up with those of his classmates and even if they do get lost, you will be able to find them later on.

My boy lost his scouts uniform in school when he was changing into his gym uniform. However, we were able to find it at the school a week later, thanks to the name label.

Personalized School Bag Tag for Kids

Princess Maya 
Personalized Bag Tag 

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School Bag Tag

Luggage Tags or School Bag tags help your child find their bags easily. These days its quite common for kids to carry bags in the same design and color.

A personalized school bag tag can help the bag stand out easily from the rest and make it easier for your kids to find their school bags.

Besides this, its a personal fashion statement and stylish too.

You can also use tags to indicate a child's special condition or allergies.

Shoe ID Tag

Children Shoe Labels -
 Self Laminating
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It is important to label your child's shoes too. For young children, this is a safety precaution as some shoe id tags come with space for you to write down your contact numbers.

This is also useful as a label for children with medical conditions.

You can use normal labels preferably those with some sort of lamination to make it last longer as shoe labels should be more hardy then other kinds of labels.

Make Your Own Label - A family or Office Labeler is perfect for this

Brother Family Labeler
(PT1090BK)
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Brother Family Labeler

A Label Maker is a good product to have around. Besides labelling your kids schools stationery, mum can label her craft box, dad can label his files and brother can label his DVD collection. Every family should have one.

A place of everything and everything in its place

I make use of this motto to help me organize my children's things. A family label maker helps me create a place for everything. What about you?

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Talking To Your Child About The Birds And The Bees

If you don't know when or how to talk to your child about the birds and the bees, then check out these books and tips on talking to your children about sex.

How are babies made mum?

I have called this post Talking to Your Child About The Birds and The Bees but it really should be about talking about sex and how babies are made. However, some parents find it embarrassing or difficult to talk about this subject with their kids. To me, there is nothing embarrassing at all, though the children's curious questions may sometimes be hard to answer or put into words.

If you find it hard to find the words to describe to your child, other than using birds and bees, perhaps some story books about this subject may help. This post will highlight some useful articles and books you can use to help you talk to your child about the birds and the bees and how babies are made.

If you are not good with words, there are many books about the birds and the bees to help you out

Talking to Your Kids About Sex:
turning "the talk" into a conversation for life
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Before You Start Talking to Your Kids About Sex

Before you start talking to your kids about sex, arm yourself with knowledge, read up.

There is never a time to talk about sex. It is an ongoing process. You have to open the door of communication and keep that doorway open for your children to come to you whenever they have any issues or anything they want to ask.

In order to do that, you should talk to your children early. You should also be open and honest whenever they have any questions and there is no need to be embarrassed. If you are embarrassed then so will your child.

Most of the books below all highlight the importance of having a conversation for life and not having a specific time or "right moment" to talk about sex with your kids. I totally agree with that.

When choosing books about birds and bees choose age appropriate and gender specific books

The Birds, the Bees, and the Berenstain Bears
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The Birds, the Bees, and the Berenstain Bears

I like this one very much. In fact I like the Berenstain Bear Books because it talks about a lot of subjects like school bullying, fear about public speaking, accepting and welcoming home the new baby etc in fun stories that will appeal to kids.

In this book The Birds, the Bees and the Berenstain Bears, sister learns about the birds and the bees...and sonograms with a little help from Mama and Dr Gert.

When To Talk To Your Child About How Babies Are Made? - When to have THE talk?

Conception, Pregnancy & Birth:
The Childbirth Bible for Today's Parents
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Conception, Pregnancy & Birth: The Childbirth Bible for Today's Parents

I find that the best time to talk to your child about the birds and the bees and how babies are made and other sensitive topics like menstruation and sex is the time when they are little. Don't wait till they are in their teens. It would be more awkward then. They would also have heard or learned from friends at school. Sometimes they learn the wrong facts and put two and two together to make five.

I first talked to my kids when they were both still preschoolers. It was in response to something my daughter asked me. I took out my Conception, Pregnancy and Birth Book by Miriam Stoppard (which had served me very well for both my pregnancies) and talked to them about the birds and the bees and how babies are made.

I find the pictures within good enough for explaining to the kids about how babies grow in the womb from month to month without being too graphic for the kids.

It's So Amazing!:
A Book about Eggs, Sperm, 
Birth, Babies, and Families
(The Family Library) BUY NOW!

It's So Amazing!: A Book about Eggs, Sperm, Birth, Babies, and Families

Robie H. Harris is an author, specializing in books for children. She was born in Buffalo, New York, and currently lives in Boston, Massachusetts. She is particularly notable for being the author of several children's books about childbirth and human sexuality, including It's Perfectly Normal and It's so Amazing, two of the American Library Association's most-challenged books of the 21st century.

It's so Amazing answers these questions and more:

1. How does a baby begin?

2. What makes a baby male or female?

3. How is a baby born?

The book is fun with accurate, comic-book-style illustration and a clear, lively text to help young children understand how their bodies work.

If you are embarrassed, your child will be too.

Use normal language when talking to your child, not baby language

It is important to use normal language when talking to your child. Say Penis instead of wee wee thingy etc. In this manner, the kids won't feel embarrassed to mention it to you in later years. Use the terms in a matter of fact manner. If you are not shy (after all it is just the name of a body part) neither will the children and by starting the talk early, you will have opened up a valuable avenue for the children to come to you with any questions in later years without feeling embarrassed about it.

I love the WebMD Sexual Health Center. It has good articles that you can refer to for making the talk with your kids easier. As a matter of fact, there shouldn't be a specific time for "the talk". The talk can be anytime and is an ongoing open communication between you and the kids at any time whenever they have questions but YOU must make it possible for them to come to you. Open up to them, talk to them early and they will come to you instead of the internet or friends when they are in their teens.

What I love most about the WebMD website are the following slideshows from the site.

1. Conception Slideshow from Egg to Embryo

2. Fetal Development Month to Month Slideshow

These are great for explaining to kids about how babies are made.

There is no "right time" for talking about the birds and bees
What's the Big Secret?: Talking about Sex with Girls and Boys

Talking about the birds and the bees with older kids
Even if you have not had the talk with your young children about the birds and the bees, it's never too late to start. The ABC's of the Birds and Bees: For Parents of Toddlers to Teens may be a useful reference guide for teens.

What's the Big Secret?: Talking about Sex with Girls and Boys

What's the Big Secret?:
Talking about Sex with Girls and Boys
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How can you tell a boy from a girl? What are the proper terms for genitalia? How do you make a baby? Is sex a dirty word? Where do babies come from? What does being pregnant mean? How do you get a belly button? Tell me about when I was a baby...

Answers all these questions and more for the curious child. Meant for preschool to grade 3, the answers are given honestly but without being too detailed to cater to this younger set.

Teach your child to say No and the importance of respecting their own and other people's bodies

It is important to teach children to protect themselves from sexual abuse

While talking about the birds and the bees, sex and how babies are made, now is a good time and opportunity to teach children to protect themselves from sexual abuse. Teach them to say "No". Teach them to respect their own as well as other person's bodies.

If the children are very young, it is a good starting point to tell them that their private parts belong to them and them alone, just like their toys. Even very young kids understand this. Use the names for the body parts instead of using baby language even when talking to very young kids.

Tell them what kind of touch is appropriate and what is not and make it clear to them that they can always come to you about any questions that they have that is troubling them. Give them reassurance and security.

Here is a good publication from the OCFS the Office of Children and Family Services, New York. Say No! Protecting Children Against Sexual Abuse

You should also check out this article on How to talk to your children about sexual abuse

What's Happening to My Body?
Book for Boys: Revised Edition
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Boys need to learn about puberty and growing up too and should not be afraid to ask. Make it easy for them to ask by being open

Teaching boys about their changing bodies and feelings - for older kids aged 10 up

Sometimes you may want to talk to kids about gender specific issues for example, if you have a boy, getting a book that relates specifically to boy issues and their growing up bodies would be more relevant.

The "What's Happening to My Body?" Book for Boys gives sensitive straight talk on: the body's changing size and shape; diet and exercise; the growth spurt; the reproductive organs; body hair; voice changes; romantic and sexual feelings; and puberty in the opposite sex. It also includes information on steroid abuse, acne treatment, sexually transmitted diseases, AIDS, and birth control.

Girls may have specific issues like periods their changing shapes, what bras to choose etc

What's Happening to My Body?
Book for Girls: Revised Edition
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Talking to Girls about their bodies and growing up - Growing up guide for girls

For girls, there may be additional issues relating to puberty, menstruation, their changing shape and form, and many more issues just for girls only. So if you have a daughter, a girl specific book may be more relevant for you.

Everything preteen and teen girls need to know about their changing bodies and feelings The "What's Happening to My Body?" Book for Girls gives sensitive straight talk on: the body's changing size and shape; the growth spurt; breast development; the reproductive organs; the menstrual cycle; body hair; diet and exercise; romantic and sexual feelings; and puberty in the opposite sex. It also includes information on anorexia and bulimia, sexually transmitted diseases, AIDS, and birth control.

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