1. WHAT’S GOING ON
DOWN THERE?
A child’s guide to puberty.
By: Thomas Cosgrove and Caitlin Widdicombe

2. Table of Contents
Introduction……………………………………………………………………….1
Hair Growth……………………………………………………………………….2
Growth Spurts………………………………...................................................3
Weight Gain……………………………………………………………………….4
Acne………………………………………………………………………………..5
Body Odor…………………………………………………………………………6
Body Development………………………………………………………………7-8
Menstruation………………………………………………………………….......9
Social Development……………………………………………………………..10
Conclusion………………………………………………………………………..11

3. Introduction
So, you may be wondering: what is puberty, and why is it happening
to my body? Fortunately, these questions are normal to ask, and can be
answered very simply. Puberty is a normal process of development that
occurs when a child’s body is ready to become an adult. This is marked by
menstruation, hair growth, growth spurts, acne, body odor, and breast and
penis development. When you reach around the age of 11, your body starts
preparing itself to turn into a big, mature adult. Why? Hormones, of course!
Hormones are chemicals in your body that signal puberty to begin. In this
book, we will look at the different (and completely normal) changes that
occurs during puberty, and why it happens.

4. Hair Growth
When you enter into puberty, you may notice some changes happening to
your body. One of them may be hair growth in odd places. In boys, hair
starts growing under the arms, legs, and in the pubic area (between the
legs). Chest hair may appear, and some may need to begin shaving. This
is similar to hair growth in girls, but with some minor changes. Girls start
growing hair under the arms, legs, and pubic area, but this is usually
marked by breast development. Hair growth in these places may be
embarrassing, but it is completely normal and a natural process.

5. Growth Spurts
As you enter puberty, your body is growing and it’s happening really fast!
Growth spurts lasts for about 2 to 3 years, and you can grow up to 4
inches in one year. At the end of puberty, you’ll have reached your adult
height. For girls, the average height is 5 feet 4 inches. For boys, the
average height is 5 feet 9 inches. This, however, differs greatly among
races, genders, and cultures. So, why does this growth spurt happen?
Hormones! The same hormones that encourages hair growth and a girl’s
first menarche causes your bone joints to open up and increase in
density to prepare itself to grow.

6. Weight Gain
As your body becomes taller, you will also gain weight. Boy’s shoulders
grow wider and muscular, while girl’s bodies become curvier. Girl’s hips
become wider, her breasts more fuller, and overall more shapely. Weight
gain starts at the beginning of your growth spurt, around age 10 for girls
and age 12 for boys. You may feel awkward at first, but your body is trying
to catch up. Unfortunately, weight gain leads to peer pressure, and peer
pressure can cause some adolescents to have a negative body image,
and this can develop into serious disorders. To prevent this, you need to
eat healthy, exercise regularly, and stay active.

7. Acne
Some side effects of puberty, however,
aren’t very pleasant. Acne, also known
as pimples, is triggered by puberty
hormones and starts around the
beginning of puberty. They can show up
on your face, back, shoulders, or upper
chest. How do pimples form? Acne is
caused by pores (small openings in the
skin) that contain a hair and oil gland.
These pores become clogged by dead
skin cells and oil, and wah-lah! It
becomes a pimple. Although pimples
can be embarrassing, washing your
face and seeing a dermatologist can
decrease the amount of pimples you
have. And the good news? By the end
of adolescence, most pimples will have
disappeared!

8. Body Odor
Another unfortunate side effect of
puberty is body odor. As your body
starts developing into a young adult,
your sweat glands are working
overtime. Growth spurts, new
emotions, and physical activities
increases the amount you sweat, and
sweat can sometimes mean odor.
Luckily, there’s a simple solution. Many
drugstores have a wide variety of
deodorants and anti-perspirants that
can be applied to the underarm to
reduce sweat and odor.

9. Body Development
One of the most important and drastic changes your body endures during
puberty is the development of breasts in girls and testicle and penis
development in boys. Body part development is triggered by puberty
hormones, and can develop earlier or later than expected. They differ in
size, shape, color, and thickness – all of which are perfectly normal.
Boys
In boys, the first body change is
growth of your testicles. The skin
of the scrotum becomes thinner
and hangs lower, and this is the
first signal that you have entered
puberty. The penis also begins
to grow bigger. As a boy’s pubic
area develops, his vocal cords
also develop. His voice will
begin to get deeper and “crack”
as it reaches it’s full maturity.

10. Girls
Breast development in girls occurs around the ages of 8 and 11.
There are 5 stages of breast development, although it is normal to
skip some. Some girls wear a training bra to offer a small amount of
support, and to help while playing sports. Often one breast grows
faster than the other, and this is completely normal as well. Breast
growth also signals the arrival of a girl’s period, which is described in
the next page.

11. Menstruation
When a girl reaches the age of 12,
her body starts preparing itself for it’s
first menarche, or first period.
Menstruation is the releasing of eggs
from the ovaries and the passing of
blood and tissue from the uterus.
When her body starts releasing high
levels of estrogen, a female hormone,
the uterus lining thickens and
prepares itself to release an egg. If
this egg is fertilized (which will grow
into a baby), then no blood will shed.
If it isn’t, then you have your period!
The menstruation cycle usually takes
28 days, but can be shorter or longer.
No periods are ever the same, and
can differ in which age you start, how
long they last for and how strong they
are.

12. Social Development
During puberty, there are other changes that occur besides physical ones.
Your brain becomes more adapt to it’s surroundings, and you start to view
the world differently. These developments can occur at any time, however,
and some teens progress faster than others.
You may notice that you start to:
1. Develop the ability to think abstractly
2. Become concerned with philosophy, politics, and social issues
3. Think long-term
4. Set goals
5. Compare yourself with your peers
Your mind is developing to think like an adult!

13. All in all, puberty is a stressful and exciting time in a young
adult’s life. It causes drastic changes in your appearance, such as hair
growth, growth spurts, weight gain, and body development, and drastic
hormonal changes, such as acne, body odor, and the start of
menstruation. You may feel abnormal and different while going through
these changes, and you’re not alone. Your peers may tell you that you’re
a “freak” for already having breasts, or having a deep voice. Fortunately,
you are completely normal and on your way on to becoming a mature,
strong adult. If you have any questions or concerns, ask your parents.
They went through the same exact thing. Puberty is a normal, natural
bodily process, and there’s nothing to be ashamed of!