Puberty explained: Boys and Girls

They’re not that different!

Your thoughts (67)

My name is Sumbo, I am 16 and the firstborn in my family. My brother and sister are 12-year old twins –Taiwo and Kehinde. I love them so much. And I always try to make them feel like they can always count on me.

And so, you can imagine my excitement when Kehinde decided to confide in me.

I can still remember the day it happened and how she came to me looking worried.

She wanted to know what was wrong with her. She didn’t understand the strange changes in her body. She needed me to explain why she was beginning to look older than her twin. She was scared.

And so, I said to her;

“Kenny, you see what is happening to you? It happened to me too. And, I was like your age when it happened. I was so scared ehn. It took mum to calm me down.

Mum told me I was going through something called Puberty. It is something boys and girls experience as they grow older.

Although they all experience the changes, it however might not happen to everyone at the same time. Look at you and Taiwo for example.

Another thing she told me is that some of these changes are not the same for boys and girls.

Changes like growing breasts or getting periods in girls or wet dreams and a deep voice in boys.

But there are changes that are similar to both boys and girls. Such as mood swings, pimples, growing hair under the armpit or pubic area.

So get ready oh!!! You will see more changes than these ones. But you have nothing to worry about. It is totally normal.


My sister felt better afterward. And it felt so good that I was able to be a big sister and help.

A few weeks later, our cousin who is about a year older than the twins visited the house. My sister noticed his voice was a bit deeper.

She wondered why Taiwo’s voice didn’t sound that deep. When she mentioned it, he felt a bit embarrassed about it. I told her what was happening.

Afterward, they asked me a load of questions and I tried my best to answer them all.

It’s a good thing we had this conversation as she is now helping her brother prepare for his bodily changes.

Going through a change like this is normal. It is also okay to talk about it with a very close friend, a trusted family member or even an older trusted person with experience.

Wondering how to start a conversation? Well here are our tips; keep the conversation relaxed, clearly, explain your questions, and listen to the other person’s advice.

Want to read more inspiring stories like this one? Then head to our Springster Facebook page and connect with a community of girls just like you! - https://www.facebook.com/heyspringster

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Your thoughts

Hmm,i love springster.It teaches us many things.

March 20, 2022, 7:56 p.m.

Yes,this is a very nice!

March 20, 2022, 7:56 p.m.

What wet dream

March 20, 2022, 7:56 p.m.

I luv this

March 20, 2022, 7:56 p.m.

wonderful

March 20, 2022, 7:56 p.m.

hi am new

March 20, 2022, 7:56 p.m.

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Welcome

welcome ae,how was ur day.

I was raped by a girl when I was still 13 as she forced me to have sex with her, mean why she was older than me. 17yr then. Since then my life never remain the same again as I always feel urge for ladies. What can I do?

March 20, 2022, 7:56 p.m.

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am really sorry for what happened to you.and please try controlling your urge ok

U can pray and ask God to guide u through

Hey 1234! Thanks for opening up through this comment. We are so sorry about what you went through and we understand how hard it must have been for you. One other very important thing for you to know about is that you have total control of your sexual urge so you can choose to not have an urge for a girl. Sexual urges start from the mind and when you start to say that you always have an urge, it means that you are not in total control of this and you really can be. You need to first of all talk to a trusted adult about this so that they can know about the situation on ground. There is a Child Advocacy Center where they help and give professional advice to young people in situations like this on what they can do to be safe. You can call them on 08 00 80 080 01. This service is completely confidential - which means they won't share what you say to them with other people. It is free which means you don’t not need to have credit before you call them. We hope this helps

Yea it's true

March 20, 2022, 7:55 p.m.

I like it and good

March 20, 2022, 7:55 p.m.

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CAN WE BE FRIENDS?

CAN WE BE FRIENDS? THAT'S GOOD OF YOU

BIG SISTER IT IS ONE YEARS NOW I SEE WHITE THING COMING OUT OF MY PRIVATE PATH AN SMELLING I DON'T UNDERSTAND PLEASE HELP ME

March 20, 2022, 7:55 p.m.

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Hi

it is normal

HOW IS IT NORMAL BEAUTY.

Hey X-RAY! Thanks for the comment. What you see coming out of your pant is called vaginal discharge. It is normal among girls when they reach puberty. It comes at different times in the month but it is not meant to itch, smell, itch or even be either be green or yellow. Since it has a smell, you should talk to a trusted adult and see a doctor about it. We hope this helps

Just wanna know if menstrual pain can be controlled

March 20, 2022, 7:55 p.m.

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Hey Dammy! Thanks for the comment. Your menstrual pain can be controlled in many ways. You can take a walk, take a warm bath, drink a cup of hot tea etc. If the pain persists, please talk to a trusted adult and see a pharmacist to prescribe drugs for you. We hope this helps

Hi am new

March 20, 2022, 7:55 p.m.

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new? is this another cutie or what.

welcome my dear cutie .

March 20, 2022, 7:55 p.m.

welcome my dear cutie .Nice to meet you.

March 20, 2022, 7:55 p.m.

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Hi pinky.b can we be frnds.

Hello Bayley,Yes we can be friends.

March 20, 2022, 7:55 p.m.

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Pinky.B how are you can we be friend

Hey .....I am 23ys old. I have pimples all over my face. What can i do?

March 20, 2022, 7:55 p.m.

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Hey Dear! Thanks for the comment. Age has nothing to do with pimples. Pimples can be genetic or even be a phase that you will eventually outgrow. You can read any of the articles we have written about pimples. Search either at the top or bottom of the page for "pimples", read the stories that relate to you. We hope this helps

hello am new here...can I get some friends..?

March 20, 2022, 7:55 p.m.

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Hi zackky

hello..can I know you

Hi....am new here...can i get sme friends ?

March 20, 2022, 7:55 p.m.

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Totally

Hi...friends

March 20, 2022, 7:55 p.m.

Hello prince. Yagi.

March 20, 2022, 7:55 p.m.

Hello Nrmal, You are proudly welcome to this platform. We can be friends if you want.

March 20, 2022, 7:55 p.m.

Hi Zackky, You are highly welcome

March 20, 2022, 7:55 p.m.

am new here?am i welcome

March 20, 2022, 7:54 p.m.

Hi Cami, Yes you're welcome.

March 20, 2022, 7:54 p.m.

pls help I am 15 but my breast are just like that 11 year girl

March 20, 2022, 7:54 p.m.

Latest Reply

Hey 1414! Thanks for the comment. The size of your breast is hormonal and may increase as you grow. Do not worry about it as there is little you can do to increase it. Just be comfortable in your skin and take your mind off it besides, you still have time to grow as you are still really young. Remember that the size of your breast does not determine what you will be in life. Look at the mirror and tell yourself that you are beautiful (big breast or not). We hope this helps.

I can I have ur number pls

nice

March 20, 2022, 7:54 p.m.

hello am new here

March 20, 2022, 7:54 p.m.

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Hi tarvia u are welcome

Nice

March 20, 2022, 7:54 p.m.

nice one

March 20, 2022, 7:54 p.m.

Lol

March 20, 2022, 7:54 p.m.

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Hello petty

Good

March 20, 2022, 7:54 p.m.

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Hello how are you

Wow that is good

March 20, 2022, 7:54 p.m.

wow tanks big sister, that was lovely and kind of you

March 20, 2022, 7:54 p.m.

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omotayo how are you doing

Hello Mighty, Of course

March 20, 2022, 7:54 p.m.

Thank U So Much

March 20, 2022, 7:54 p.m.

That's really nice, but I think it's really good for some parents to discuss sex education with there kids,some parents find it very hard to even enlighten there kids on sex education, why is it so big sister cause I don't see anything bad in it.

March 20, 2022, 7:54 p.m.

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Yes ooo parents shud educate dia children early enough to prepare dia mind. If they educate them ealy it will help the children to open up and fell free with them

thanks alot

March 20, 2022, 7:53 p.m.

we need sex education

March 20, 2022, 7:53 p.m.

I played with a boys penis and he said i shud suck it after dat a whitish slimy thing came out Wat does dat mean???

March 20, 2022, 7:53 p.m.

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that is cum sweetie I sucked it one day

i had a ton to experiment it, watched it in the blues but a never mind for me