If someone asked you which part of your life would you like to live over again, chances are that “puberty” would not be your answer. Let’s face it; puberty sucked. If you have kids who are about to go through puberty, brace yourselves.
From the hormones to the fear of not fitting in, many obstacles can be found on this course throughout life. For girls, maturing early seems to carry more substantial costs. These girls often report feeling awkward around their peers. They tend to hang out with an older crowd and may feel pressured to experiment with things that they may not be ready for.
According to helpguide.org, in past generations, boys were much more likely than girls to experiment with alcohol in their teens, but girls are catching up. In a previous study, 58% of all males ages 12 and older were current drinkers, higher than the rate for females (47%). But in the youngest group (ages 12 to 17), the percentage of current drinkers were nearly the same (15% of boys, 14% of girls).
Teenage girls experiment with alcohol for many of the same reasons that boys do, but they face some challenges boys don’t:
• Among teenage heavy drinkers (those having five or more drinks in a row at least five times in one month), girls are more likely to say that they drink to escape problems or to cope with frustration or anger.
• Girls are more likely to drink because of family problems than because of peer pressure.
• Drinking can delay puberty in girls, while abusing alcohol can cause endocrine disorders during puberty.
Adolescents are likely nervous and confused as they face their first opportunities to try alcohol, so talking to the young people in your life openly and honestly about drinking is important. Here are a few reasons to keep the lines of communication open:
• Alcohol has harmful effects on developing brains and bodies.
• For adolescents ages 15 to 20, alcohol is implicated in more than a third of driver fatalities resulting from automobile accidents and about two-fifths of drownings.
• While most people recognize the importance of discussing alcohol with kids, they aren’t always sure when to initiate this discussion. Set the stage early by letting your teenager know that he or she can talk to you about anything, without judgment or lecturing.
