How does early puberty affect physical growth and development?
Kids grow fast during puberty. If they gain a lot of height early, they stop growing earlier, and tend to be shorter as adults. • Find out more about growing up short in a tall world in this YourChild podcast. How does early puberty affect kids in other ways? It’s always hard to be different, and developing an adult-looking body earlier than your peers can put a lot of pressure on kids. Both boys [3], and girls [4] can have a tough time when they go through pubertal changes early. Your child may be teased, and may have body image or self-esteem problems. They may also be confused about what is happening to their body, and may have unfamiliar emotions. Girls may enter into dating and sexual activity earlier, and may even marry earlier than their classmates [5]. Early-maturing girls may also have more behavior problems and a greater risk for substance abuse and suicide [6], [7]. If you are concerned about your child’s behavior or coping, talk to your child’s doctor or school staff, and c
