73: Helping Your Kid Navigate Puberty (with Birds & Bees)

Do you remember when your parents talked to you about your changing body? What did that feel like for you? Was a big conversation where it happened all at once, or did it happen in small pieces scattered over your childhood? Did you feel scared and overwhelmed, or did you feel curious and . . . okay? It’s a big topic to tackle, both for parents *and* kids. That’s exactly why Emily invited two of our favorite guests back onto the show this week: Megan and Mary Flo of Birds & Bees! All the way back in episode two, Mary Flo and Megan shared how to talk to kids about sex with calm and confidence, and it’s one of our most downloaded episodes ever. Today, they chat with Emily about how to talk to kids at any age about bodies and how they’ll change someday, and how bodies differ by age and gender. They share how to coach kids to communicate boundaries when it comes to their bodies, the best ways that parents can react to kids’ surprising questions, and how to start talking to kids about topics that maybe you should’ve tackled a while ago (and don’t worry, parents: this is a no-shame zone!).   Thanks to our episode sponsors!   GIRL MEETS FARM | Listen to Girl Meets Farm on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.   GREEN CHEF | Go to https://greenchef.com/simplified135, and use code simplified135 to get $135 off across five boxes—and your first box ships free!   BETTERHELP | Get 10% off your first month at https://betterhelp.com/simplified    TRUEBILL | Don’t pay for what you don’t need. Start canceling subscriptions now at https://truebill.com/simplified    * * * GET AD-FREE LISTENING + EARLY ACCESS TO NEW EPISODES https://apple.co/3ICMUmk  * * * SHOW NOTES emilyley.com/podcast * * * GET EMILY’S KIDS BOOK! You’re Always Enough: And More Than I Hoped For * * * SUBSCRIBE Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | iHeartRadio | YouTube * * * LET’S BE FRIENDS! Simplified: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest Emily Ley: Instagram | Facebook