Interview with a Puberty Expert!
This activity provides students who are going through puberty with an opportunity to discuss any queries or issues in a cross-age setting, whilst also promoting conversations about puberty at home.
For Parents/Guardians
Websites and articles
Healthy WA
Talk soon. Talk often is a guide for parents to facilitate discussions around sex
Parenting through puberty
Advice for parents and carers about navigating puberty with adolescents
Get The Facts
Interactive, user-friendly sexual health information and resources for young people
Cognitive Disability
Advice: How to teach children with cognitive disabilities about sexual health & education
ThinkUKnow
Australian Federal Police online safety program that seeks to educate people about youth
keeping Safe online
Information about online safety for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
student and community home
Animated videos explaining online safety for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
Victoria Education and Training
Advice on how to deal with sensitive issues, addresses the parents’ role in sexuality education.
For Kids
Kid friendly resources
student and community home
Animated videos explaining online safety for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
For Teachers
Educational resources
keeping Safe online
Information about online safety for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
ThinkUKnow
Australian Federal Police online safety program that seeks to educate people about youth
Cognitive Disability
Advice: how to teach children with cognitive disabilities about sexual health & education
student and community home
Animated videos explaining online safety for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
Reccommended Reading List
Puberty
The Puberty Book (6th Ed.)
This book explains the puberty journey in a straightforward and accessible way for teenagers.
Topics include: periods, hair growth, cyber safety, reproduction, healthy relationships, masturbation and pregnancy.
Recommended Age: 12 - 17
It's Ok to Be You: A Frank and Funny Guide to Growing Up
This book takes a friendly and down-to-earth approach to discussions about puberty.
Written explanations are accompanied by humorous cartoons to normalise the puberty process.
Recomended Age: 10 -16
Hair in Funny Places
This book is a great conversation starter for discussing puberty with older children. Cole tackles the changes of puberty with hilarious humour, creativity and imagination, providing a fun read for parents and children.
Recommended Age: 9 -11
Talk soon. Talk often.
This book provides advice for parents and carers concerning the best ways to speak to children and adolescents about puberty.
Recommended Age: Parents/Guardians
Whats happening to me?
This book is an oldie but a goodie! Mayle and Robins use simple and straightforward language and cartoons to reassure readers that changes in puberty are normal.
Recommended Age: 9 - 12
Yarning Quiet Ways - Indigenous/Puberty
This book was developed in consultation with Indigenous parents to develop a resource that would help families and carers speak to young people about how to take care of their health and relationships during and after adolescence.
Recommended Age: Adult Resources
Taking Care of Myself - Puberty (Autism)
This book provides a “Hygiene, Puberty and Personal Curriculum” for children with autism. This book can be used by parents, carers or other professionals working with children with autism or other learning needs.
Recommended Age: 8 -12
Female
Girl Stuff for Girls aged 8-12: Your Real Guide
Cooke’s pre-teen guide explains all things puberty and adolescence using her trademark dry wit and friendliness. A humorous read for those wanting accurate information and a good, hearty laugh.
Recommended Age: 8- 12
Secret Girls' Business
This book provides readers with simple text, engaging illustrations and lots of encouragement for the transitions that come with growing up. There is also an additional section with tips for parents, carers, schools and teachers.
Recomended Age: 8+
Read more
Talk soon. Talk often.
This book provides advice for parents and carers concerning the best ways to speak to children and adolescents about puberty.
Recommended Age: Parents/Guardians
More Secret Girls' Business
Sequel: Provides more in-depth information about the range of changes associated with puberty. By combining accessible language with engaging illustrations, the authors aim to demystify puberty and encourage readers to feel confident and proud of the changes taking place in their body.
Recommended Age: 10+
What’s Happening to Me? (Girl)
This book incorporates artistic and colourful illustrations to explain changes that will occur during puberty. Using a fun yet educational writing style, the authors also seek to clarify myths and misconceptions that surround the topic of puberty.
Recommended Age: 12 -17
The Period Book: Everything You Don’t Want to Ask (But Need to Know)
This book provides a comprehensive guide to periods for pre-teens by providing straightforward answers on a wide range of questions related to periods.
Recomended Age: 9 - 12
Read more
Puberty girl
This book provides a comprehensive, visually-engaging explanation of puberty and attempts to answer any questions girls may have about their transition from childhood to adulthood by providing factual information dispersed with girls’ own stories and experiences.
Recommended Age: 11 - 15
Welcome to Your Period!
This frank and funny book gives pre-teen and teenage girls open and down-to-earth advice about how to manage periods ‘like a boss.’ Using funky and inclusive illustrations and snippets of relatable advice from other teenage girls make this an enjoyable and informative read for all.
Recommended Age: 10 - 15
Girls Without Limits
This is a book for adults to better understand and assist girls with the types of social, academic, emotional and social challenges that face modern adolescents so that they can reach their full potential.
Recommended Age: Parents, Carers, Teacher
Girlosophy: A Soul Survival Kit
This is a book for pre-teens and teenage girls that explores developing one’s individual identity. Using simple text and colourful photographs, the book encourages readers to consider their values and how they can use these to make choices that are right for them concerning their social, emotional and mental wellbeing.
Recomended Age: 12+
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Special Girls’ Business (Additional Needs)
This book has been specifically developed to for girls with special needs to explain menstruation. The book combines simple text and vibrant illustrations to explain how to manage menstruation. The book also includes additional tips and additional information for parents and carers at the back of the book.
Recommended Age: Students, Parents/Guardians, Teachers
Puberty and Special Girls (Additional Needs)
This book is designed for girls with special needs (including physical or intellectual disability, or other conditions that affect speech). The book provides explanations of puberty changes and sexuality and provides more detailed information than Special Girls’ Business. Tips and additional information for parents/guardians.
Recommended Age: Students, Parents/Guardians, Teachers
Susan’s Growing Up (Additional Needs)
This book is part of a series called Books Beyond Words and is designed for use by parents, carers, teachers and other health professionals to help people with learning difficulties understand menstruation. This book can be understood by people who cannot read.
Recommended Age: Students, Parents, Carers, Teacher
Males
Secret Boys’ Business (2nd Ed.)
This book provides accessible information about the emotional and physical changes that take place during puberty. The book includes light-hearted illustrations by Jeff Taylor.
Recommended Age: 9 - 13
What’s Happening to Me? (Boy)
This book informs readers about the physical and emotional changes that occur for boys during puberty.
Recomended Age: 12 - 17
Read more
Puberty Boy
This book discusses the wide variety of changes that occur for males during puberty. It includes accessible stories from both men and boys about these changes and adopts a practical and encouraging approach towards the puberty journey.
Recommended Age: 11 - 15
Special Boys’ Business (Additional Needs)
Special Boys’ Business is designed for boys with intellectual or physical disabilities, or boys with autism or speech disorders, to help explain the process of puberty. The book employs simple language and its engaging illustrations mean it is also suitable for children with reading difficulties. Tips and additional information for parents/guardians.
Recommended Age: Students, Parents/Guardians, Teachers
Puberty & Reproduction
A – Z of Growing Up, Puberty and Sex
This book aims to provide teenage readers with factual, straightforward information about an extensive range of topics associated with puberty and sex. Please note that this book contains slang words.
Recommended Age: 12+
Reproduction
Where Did I Come From?
This book provides the birds and the bees talk in a fun and friendly way. Mayle’s reassuring tone and Robins’ quirky illustrations result in a fun but factual account of reproduction and birth that can be enjoyed by children and parents alike.
Recommended Age: 9 - 12
The Amazing True Story of How Babies Are Made
This picture book provides an ebullient and informative account of the reproductive and birthing process. Using a combination of simple text, quirky illustrations and speech bubbles, the explanation is accessible to all readers
Recomended Age: 9 - 12
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Let’s Talk About Sex
Designed for adolescents and early teens to explain an extensive range of facts associated with puberty and growing up. Topics include physical, emotional and social changes that occur, healthy relationships, reproduction and safe sex and contraception. The book includes witty and informative illustrations to normalise questions and concerns around these topics.
Recommended Age: 12 - 17
Special Boys’ Business (Additional Needs)
Special Boys’ Business is designed for boys with intellectual or physical disabilities, or boys with autism or speech disorders, to help explain the process of puberty. The book employs simple language and its engaging illustrations mean it is also suitable for children with reading difficulties. Tips and additional information for parents/guardians.
Recommended Age: Students, Parents/Guardians, Teachers
Relationships/Reproduction
The Secret Business of Relationships: Love and Sex
This book explores the emotional changes that can occur during puberty and how pre-teens and adolescents can negotiate their relationships during this time. The book discusses a range of relationships and associated topics, such as: romantic relationships, gender identity, friendships, attraction, sexual orientation, safe sex, conception, unplanned pregnancies, Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs).
Recommended Age: 12+
Sex And Other Stuff : The A to Z Of Everything You Need To Know
This book organizes sexual health information into an A-Z inventory. This is an easy-to-read guide for adolescents and teachers alike to better understand essential aspects of sexual health and wellbeing.
Recomended Age: 13+
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Relationships/Sexuality (ASD)
Sexuality and Relationships Education for Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders
This book provides specific strategies and advice for educating young people with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) about sexuality and relationships. The book contains a wide range of educational strategies and activities for readers to use with students or develop into an individualised learning program. This book is useful for parents, carers and teachers of people with ASD.
Recommended Age: Teachers, Parents/Guardians
Sex And Other Stuff : The A to Z Of Everything You Need To Know
This book organizes sexual health information into an A-Z inventory. This is an easy-to-read guide for adolescents and teachers alike to better understand essential aspects of sexual health and wellbeing.
Recomended Age: 13+
Read more
Body Safety
My Body Belongs to Me from My Head to My Toes
This book teaches children about the importance of body safety and autonomy. The book provides guidance for readers on assertiveness and the right to say “no” to unwanted physical contact, including who to speak to if this occurs.
Recommended Age: 7 - 8
My Body! What I Say Goes!
This book teaches young readers about body safety and autonomy. Using simple language and engaging illustrations, the book encourages students to develop a “Safety Network” of five people a child could speak to if they felt unsafe or unhappy about a situation.
