Boyish

Dreading having 'the talk' with your son? There's a solution... and it's one that gives him the control and independence he craves.

Most people are aware of the fact that girls are hitting puberty at a younger age than they used to... But did you know that the same is true for boys?

With girls, having 'the talk' to prepare them for what's to come is (while by no means easy) at least centered around periods... But when it comes to boys, some of whom enter puberty much earlier than their parents were expecting, where do you begin?

Teaching boys to understand what's happening in their body as they continue on their journey toward adulthood is important.

But those conversations can be awkward... Your son cringes with every word you say, and he's so embarrassed you're not even sure that he's taking it all in.

The trick is to give him his own set of keys - give him the information to discover at his own pace, without the embarrassment of talking to a grown-up about the things he's not even comfortable with himself.

This boy-friendly guide is designed to be exactly that tool. Let him know he can talk to you any time he likes... and then hand him the book and let him learn what he needs to at his own pace. Inside, he'll discover:

• The 5 stages of puberty - so that he knows what to expect before Stage 1 hits
• Clear insight into why his parents and teachers keep talking about his 'attitude' - and what he can do to improve his self-awareness
• Why he might not hit puberty at exactly the same time as his friends (and why this is ok)
• Exactly what to expect when his voice breaks (from those first awkward moments right through to his new grown-up voice)
• Sneaky tricks he can use to help him grow tall and strong
• Why underwear is about to become more important than he realized - and how he can make the most comfortable choice for his body
• The anatomic changes he can expect inside his pants (but is far too embarrassed to ever ask about)
• The reason personal hygiene is about to become even more important... and how he can stay on top of it and avoid unpleasant 'teenage boy odors'
• All the questions he has about that much-anticipated facial hair... answered! (PLUS - essential shaving tips)
• Two surprising body parts he didn't realize he needed to take care of - and how he can do it easily
• How to handle what he's probably dreading the most - acne
• The real deal with hormones - and the effect they're going to have on his mind and body
• All the bits you least want to talk to him about - let him learn everything he needs to know about wet dreams, erections, and masturbation... without a single embarrassing conversation
• How to make sense of his blossoming feelings of sexual attraction (plus how to navigate his sexual identity as he learns more about himself)
• Why his emotions are all over the place - and how he can get greater control
• Top tips for navigating every relationship when he's not always in charge of his emotions

And much more.

Puberty can be scary for kids who don't know what to expect, but if you're dreading having 'the talk' with your son, don't worry... You don't have to explain every uncomfortable detail to him.

With a clear and comprehensive guide by his side, he can discover everything he needs to know by himself... and come to you only when he's ready.

Give him the key to understanding his own journey into adulthood

London Ford made it her tradition to celebrate puberty with a special chicken dinner for her three adult daughters and son. She holds a Master of Liberal Arts from the University of Pennsylvania and enjoys writing across cultures. She lives in Philadelphia, PA.