Precocious (early) Puberty in Girls

What is Precocious Puberty?

On average, girls start puberty between the ages of 8 and 13, but some will start to develop breasts, pubic hair, or body odor before age 8. The technical term for this is precocious puberty. Girls are more likely than boys to develop precocious puberty.

Watching your daughter become a woman can be an emotional roller coaster under normal circumstances. But when puberty starts early, it can really be distressing.

Most of the time there's nothing seriously wrong – your child is probably just on the early side of normal. And although she may suffer some social or physical awkwardness for a time, the rest of her class won't be far behind.

There aren't likely to be any long-term physical effects from starting puberty early except one: Initially your child may be taller than her peers, but an early growth spurt could leave her shorter than average as an adult.

Puberty

                                               
Girls enter puberty about one year before boys. Girls usually begin to show the first changes a tender, nickel-sized lump under one or both nipples (breast buds) and then pubic hair – between the ages of 8 and 13. These changes precede a growth spurt, which is followed eventually by menstruation. Most girls get their first period 18 months to three years after the appearance of breast buds.

Some girls begin to show signs of puberty before age 8, and this condition is known as precocious puberty. If your daughter's breasts are developing or you notice pubic hair at age 7 or younger, let her doctor know. In most cases it doesn't signal a serious problem, but she may need testing to determine the cause and possibly receive treatment.

In boys, puberty usually begins between the ages of 9 and 14. The first sign is usually enlargement of the testicles followed by thinning and darkening of the skin on the scrotum. The scrotal skin also becomes dotted with tiny bumps, which are hair follicles. Pubic hairs begin to grow at the base of the penis, and the penis lengthens then widens. Boys go through a growth spurt as they progress through puberty, with most of the growth happening during late puberty.

Though it's less common, boys can also experience precocious puberty, which is defined in males as the onset of puberty before age 9.

Researchers continue to study the developmental differences between boys and girls and what causes them, but it's important to remember that biology alone doesn't determine the kind of son or daughter you'll have. Exposing your child to a wide range of activities and experiences is the best way to support a well-rounded, active child.

How do I answer my toddler's questions about genitals?

Genitals- "Private Parts"

As children who grow up with Caribeean parents, talking about anything remotley resembling sex or genitals was a "no no" for our parents.

No need to worry. Keep it short and sweet, and your toddler will follow your lead. As parents, we can get anxious when children ask about anything that sounds remotely related to sex. But children's curiosity about genitals is no different than their questions about eyes, ears, feet, noses, and other less private parts. And genitals are pretty interesting, as body parts go.

Their questions are only natural — after all, they have to learn about private parts from someone, and it's best for that someone to be you.

How should you respond?

Be direct, and stay matter-of-fact. Follow the rule of thumb: "Is this how I would tell my child about elbows or knees?" Give kids the anatomically correct name for the body part ("vagina," "penis") and avoid "the baby talk". As caribbean parents we grew up hearing "pet" names for or gentials and some very vulgar to mention. Using funny or silly words will just confuse them and, if anything, make the discussion a bigger deal.

If they ask what the genitals are for, you can say that they're for going to the bathroom. If you feel comfortable mentioning that they're also used for making babies, that's okay, too. Toddlers have no understanding of sex and won't make that connection.

Young children may also ask why Daddy's or their brother's or sister's genitals are different from theirs. Point out that each person is unique: Your eyes are blue while Uncle Michael's are brown, and Grandma's nose is smaller than Grandpa's. In the same vein, boys' private parts look different from girls'.

Keep it simple and straightforward. This paves the way for future honest conversations about our bodies and yes — eventually — sex. If you don't act embarrassed, your child will get the message that it's normal to ask questions and talk about every part of our bodies and how we function.

Manners

Teaching your Children Manners

"Manners maketh man"

Pre-schoolers love to party. To help your child stay on the guest list, use these early invitations as an opportunity to teach him party manners that will help him his whole life long.

Make sure he knows the most basic concepts — that pile of presents is for the birthday kid and not the guests, for instance. You could also role-play some scenarios he might encounter at a party. Pretend you're the host and ask your child to greet you politely, shaking your hand. Practice giving a gift and taking turns at games. If he's a finicky eater, tell him what to say if he's offered a food he won't eat. Praise good efforts and forgive small mistakes. That's the best reinforcement.

Don't forget to model polite behaviour yourself.  Include "please" and "thank you" into your everyday interactions. Thank the bank teller and the bagger at the grocery store. Show the same good table manners you'd use at a fancy restaurant when you're eating in your own kitchen.

7 signs that your child loves you

                                                  

You're his confidante: When your child comes to you with a problem, it shows that he trusts you. He knows that you can help him manage his feelings, and he's open to your guidance about how to make the situation better.

She wants to do things for you: Your child may want to bring you tea or even make your breakfast. This is a particularly rewarding sign of love, especially after the toddler and preschool years when you may have felt like a 24-hour waitress. It's not just about you giving and giving anymore. Now your child wants to give, too."

He's more flexible: As much as we hate to admit it, there are times when we let our children down. The good news is that big kids are more likely to take this in stride, thanks to the reciprocal, loving relationship that you've built over the years. So if you have to put off playing a game until morning because you're tired, for example, he's more likely to accept this calmly. He trusts that you'll follow through, and he has the maturity to respect your needs in addition to his own.

She brags about you: As parents we brag about our kids all the time (at least to sympathetic grandparents and our spouses). Our kids brag about us too. So if you overhear your big kid saying, "My mommy can run faster than anyone," take it for what it is – a sign of love and admiration.

He shows gratitude: When children say thank you to us, they're really expressing respect and love. So the next time you give your child a snack and he exclaims, "These are my favorite pickles! Thanks!" feel free to say, "I love you too, honey." Or just take a moment to bask in the glow.

She tells you when you embarrass her: If your child institutes a new "no hugging or kissing" rule at morning drop-off, it doesn't mean she doesn't love you. In fact, it's just the opposite – by expressing her limits, she's demonstrating the trust she has in you. She knows that even if she puts the brakes on the juicy goodbye, she still has the security of your enduring love.

He's a diplomat: Your school-age child is able and quite willing to negotiate with you. So if he wants some screen time but you want him to do his homework, he's able to work together to find a solution. He trusts that you'll listen to him, which makes him more willing to listen to you.

Early signs of Autism

Signs of Autism in Toddlers 12 to 24 months old


                                                   

Doesn't use gestures. Doesn't shake his head yes or no. Doesn't wave goodbye or point to things he wants.

Doesn't point out objects to show interest in the world around her. By 14 to 16 months, most kids point to get your attention to share something they're interested in, such as a puppy or new toy.

Doesn't use single words by 16 months or two-word phrases by 24 months.

Loses verbal or social skills. Used to babble or speak a few words, or showed interest in people, but now he doesn't.

Withdraws. Seems to tune people out and be in her own world.

Walks on his toes or doesn't walk at all.

Signs of Autism Part 2

Signs of Autism in children 2 years old and up

                                                


Has a language delay. May struggle to express her needs. Some children with autism don't talk at all, while others develop language but have trouble participating in a conversation.


 Has unusual speaking patterns. Might speak haltingly, in a high-pitched voice or a flat tone. Might use single words instead of sentences or repeat a word or phrase over and over. Might repeat a question rather than answer it.

Doesn't seem to understand what people are saying to her. May not respond to her name or may be unable to follow directions. May laugh, cry, or scream inappropriately.

Narrowly focuses on a single object, one thing about an object (like a wheel on a toy car), or one topic at a time.

Engages in limited imitation. Rarely mimics what you do and doesn't engage in pretend play.

Seems content to play alone. Appears to have little interest in other children and usually doesn't share or take turns.

Displays rigid behaviour. May be very attached to routines and have difficulty with transitions. For example: A change in the usual route home from daycare can throw her into despair or result in a tantrum. She's very particular about what she will and won't eat. Or she wants to follow strict rituals at snacks and meals.

Plays with objects or toys in unusual ways. For example: He spends a lot of time lining things up or putting them in a certain order. He enjoys repetitively opening and closing a door. Or he becomes preoccupied with repeatedly pushing a button on a toy or spinning the wheels of a toy car.

Engages in self-injury, such as biting or hitting herself.

Exhibits repetitive actions, such as flapping his arms or hands.

Is overly sensitive to various kinds of stimulation. May resist touch, get agitated by noise, be extremely sensitive to smells, or refuse to eat many foods. He may want to wear only clothes without tags or made of a certain material.

May overreact to some types of pain and underreact to others. For example, she may cover her ears to block loud noises but not notice when she skins her knee.

May be fearful when it's unnecessary or fearless when there's reason to be afraid. For example, he may be afraid of a harmless object, like a balloon, but not frightened of heights.

Has sleep disturbances. Many children with autism have trouble falling asleep and wake up frequently in the night or are very early risers.

Exhibits behaviour problems. May be resistant, uncooperative, or overly active. May be hyperactive, impulsive, or aggressive

Mastering Math

                                               

It's amazing that your child has gone from obliviousness about numbers to growing math proficiency in such a short time. Following is a list of what math most 7-year-olds are able to do. (If your child can't do some of these things, he'll probably learn them in second grade.)

• add and subtract two-digit numbers and possibly three-digit numbers 
• begin to solve simple word problems 
• estimate amounts (such as how many beans in a jar) 
• use a ruler to measure in inches 
• understand how to measure angles 
• count to 100 by tens and fives 
• know which number comes next (after, say, 49 or 128) 
• tell time to the quarter hour

Laying a Spiritual Ground Work

Until about age 7, a child absorbs the basic rituals of spirituality she's exposed to with little understanding of their significance. It's hard for the very young to conceive of a higher power or what religion and faith represent. Around 7, children in religious households enter a new phase of spiritual development, in which they begin to understand the symbolism of various spiritual icons and rituals. They also begin to better imagine the abstract idea of the existence of God.

Observing spiritual rituals is a wonderful way to feed a growing faith. Many families join a religious community at this stage if they haven't already, attending services as a family or enrolling their child in religious education. Others choose to explore spirituality at home by creating rituals and reading books.

Answer questions about the meaning of why things are done a certain way as best you can, or enlist a clergyperson or rabbi to explain what you don't know yourself. Exposure to spirituality helps transmit your values, too.

Rituals also give a growing child security and comfort. They become important touchstones in life that she can count on and later look back upon.

Secrets to raising smart kids: Feed the brain

Breakfast of Champions

We've always heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but it's especially true when it comes to your child's developing brain. Studies have shown that children who eat breakfast perform better in attention and memory tests than those who don't.

Food absorbed by our bodies is converted to glucose that powers the body – and the brain. Your child wakes up with an empty tank that needs to be refueled. "Your child's brain needs glucose to function well. Without it, she may have difficulty understanding new information and won't remember things as well," says Terrill Bravender, chief of adolescent medicine at Nationwide Children's Hospital, and professor of clinical pediatrics at the Ohio State University College of Medicine.

Research bears this out. Harvard Medical School psychologist J. Michael Murphy and his colleagues at Massachusetts General Hospital re-analyzed the data of a USDA school breakfast pilot project that examined the impact of a universal free breakfast program of 4,000 elementary school students. Murphy’s analysis found that regular breakfast skipping was associated with poorer school attendance and tardiness, less verbal fluency, and more parent- and teacher-related behavior problems.

 

Diane Pratt-Heavner, a spokesperson for the School Nutrition Association, agrees with Murphy. "I know principals who keep snacks in their drawers for children with discipline problems. Many times, those kids never ate breakfast," she says.

But don't pull out the sugary cereals just yet. The type of food a child eats is just as important as whether she eats at all. Highly sweetened breakfast cereals can give kids a short-lived sugar high, resulting in the inevitable crash.

Protein- and fiber-rich breakfasts, on the other hand, give the brain sustained go-power. In a study published in the journal Physiology and Behavior, children who ate oatmeal for breakfast performed 20 percent better on a map-memorization test than their sugary-cereal-munching counterparts.

 

"Eating something with complex carbs and protein gives your child's brain a constant, slow infusion of glucose for better brain function," says Bravender. That said, Bravender stresses that when it comes to breakfast something is better than nothing, so make sure your child gets a morning meal.

Secrets to raising smart kids: Determine learning style

What's your child's learning style?

                                        
Knowing how your child likes to learn and process information is an invaluable tool that you can use to help your child do better in school and develop a love of learning. Education experts have identified three main types of learners – auditory learners, physical learners, and visual learners.

Auditory learners absorb information best by hearing it through verbal instructions. Physical learners like to use their hands to make discoveries. And visual learners operate best by observing – either in print or with pictures.
                                               
Auditory learners absorb information best by hearing it through verbal instructions. Physical learners like to use their hands to make discoveries. And visual learners operate best by observing – either in print or with pictures.

When learning a new math concept, for example, a visual learner will grasp the material more quickly by watching his teacher solve a problem on the blackboard or seeing a picture of the problem. An auditory learner will understand the concept if he can listen to the teacher explain it and answer his questions. A physical learner (also called tactual-kinesthetic) may need to use blocks, an abacus, or other counting materials to practice the new concept.

The three learning styles aren't just theoretical. Several studies have shown that accommodating a child's learning style can significantly increase his performance at school.

Secrets to raising smart kids: Learn a language

The benefits of learning a second language

Kids who learn a second language are more likely to communicate better, don't become frustrated as easily, and seek different ways of solving problems, according to the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages.

"There's a lot of research that shows kids who learn a foreign language show amazing growth in cognitive skills, creativity, English, math, and science," says Ingrid Pufahl, Ph.D., a linguist and research consultant. "They're also better problem solvers and can think out of the box because they've been exposed to different points of view and different languages."

Pufahl adds that you don't have to be fluent in a second language to see the brain boost. "Even after studying a foreign language for a short time, you can start seeing benefits," she says.

                                   

What can you do?

Whether you hope your child will become fluent or just want to expose her to another language, you have lots of options:

Sign up for a class. Your child's school might offer classes during or after school. If not, look for language programs offered by other schools, cultural centers, or city services.

Learn with family. If you're fluent in another language, use it frequently at home around your child, and encourage relatives to do the same.

Use an app. Plenty of apps that teach children English vocabulary can teach other languages, too. For example, The Very Hungry Caterpillar and Friends First Word app allows you to choose English, Spanish, French, or German as a primary or secondary language.

Watch a show. Snuggle up together on the couch to watch a kid-friendly bilingual show like Dora the Explorer (Spanish), Ni Hao, Kai-Lan (Mandarin), and Sesame Street (Spanish). When the show's over, start a conversation to encourage your child to use the new words she learned.

Listen and learn. Play music, read books, listen to audiobooks, and watch videos and shows in another language. Drive a familiar route with your child with voice navigation set in another language, and see if she can understand the directions.

Learn together. If you aren't fluent in the language your child is learning, study it yourself with programs like the Duolingo app or Rosetta Stone. Practice new vocabulary words with your child.

Encouraging Reading

How to Encourage Reading

Some 7-year-olds are eager readers, while others are indifferent. If your child falls into the latter category, don't worry. It's a big wide world of reading out there. You may simply need to look a little harder to find what makes him/her "clicks".

First consider branching out with her reading material. Many kids this age love comic books. And as long as the comics have words, your child is reading. Books of classics like Peanuts or Calvin and Hobbes actually teach kids many vocabulary words (some of them pretty big!). Some kids like to read only magazines. There are also many kids' series with seemingly questionable titles (Captain Underpants, Dear Dumb Diary) that have eager followers.

If your child claims not to like reading, it's possible she's getting too much screen time. Set aside time in the day specifically for reading, together or separately.

Don't overlook the possibility that your child dislikes reading because it's simply too hard for her. Is her reading material too advanced? Or is she having trouble with the process of reading itself? Ask what her teacher thinks. The solution may be as simple as some extra reading help.

Time-outs

How to make them work

When my children misbehave, the best way I nip the behaviour in the bud is often to remove them from the activity at hand and give them a chance to calm down. This technique, known as a time-out, is an effective, non-violent way to shape behaviour.

                                                   
Understanding time-outs

A time-out isn't a punishment. It's an opportunity for your child to learn how to cope with frustration and modify his behaviour. While your child is in a time-out, he's on his own, so try to let him sit in solitude for a few moments. Any attention from you – positive or negative – only reinforces unwanted behaviour. I've tried this numerous time with my daughter and it has proven to be most effective for her to improve her attitude to a particular situation.

 

Spanking AKA "Licks"

Why Parents Spank Their Children?
                                                    

For most of us who grew up in the caribbean, spanking is a natural form of discipline, perhaps our parents were spanked as a child themselves. We've all heard the phrase "spare the rod and spoil the child". Most of us see it as a good form punishment when a child is about to get hurt or finds themselves in a dangerous situation (running across a parking lot or throw something at their siblings). Still, others use spanking as a last resort, when no other discipline methods have worked.

Sometimes spanking happens when a parent simply gets angry, reacts to what a child has just done and spanks in order to send a strong message in the hopes that the child will not engage in that behaviour again.

Problems with Spanking Children

                                                                         

While most of us support this method and claim it works well, the reality is that all it teaches the child is to behave and "be good", not necessarily to understand why they should conduct themselves in a certain way. For example, if a child moves to touch a hot stove and is spanked, the child will most likely learn not to touch the stove anymore. However, what they won't learn is ​why they shouldn't touch a stove. When a child is spanked in that situation, a teaching opportunity is lost and a chance to review kitchen safety. Spanking puts a stop to a behaviour but it doesn't encourage a child to make decisions or wonder why a certain decision isn't a good one.

Spanking also models aggressive behavior. Even though the child is being hit in the context of being disciplined, it is still happening while the grown up is angry, so it demonstrates to a young child that it's OK to hit someone when you are mad. As a parent, you are your child's best role model.

Alternatives to "Licks"

There are many other ways to discipline a child other than spanking them. Time outs and taking away something that is valuable to the child are both really effective in teaching a child the difference between right and wrong.

The key to disciplining a child isn't just to get them to stop doing something (although that is certainly important). Discipline should also be viewed as a learning opportunity, a chance for a child to learn from her mistakes while developing good decision-making skills that she can utilize in the future.

Tantrums

Why your child has temper tantrums?

A temper tantrum is the emotional equivalent of a summer storm – sudden and sometimes fierce. One minute you and your child are in a restaurant enjoying your dinner, the next minute she's whimpering, whining, and then screaming at the top of her lungs because her straw is bent. Children between the ages of 1 and 3 are especially prone to tantrums.

Though you may worry that you're raising a tyrant, take heart – at this age, it's unlikely that your child is throwing a fit to be manipulative. More likely, she's having a meltdown in response to frustration.

Claire B. Kopp, professor of applied developmental psychology at California's Claremont Graduate University, attributes much of the problem to uneven language skills. "Toddlers are beginning to understand a lot more of the words they hear, yet their ability to produce language is so limited," she says. When your child can't express how she feels or what she wants, frustration mounts.

How to handle a tantrum?

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• Remember that you're the adult
• Talk it over afterward
• Let your child know you love him
• Watch for signs of overstress

Picky Eaters

There are many foods that my daughter is still reluctant to try, some would never touch her plate, much less her lips? My son is more of an adventurous eater.  At this age some children aren't as adventurous as others— but it's too soon to tell how fussy they'll be about food in adulthood.

In the meantime, there's nothing wrong with dietary monotony, so long as your child eats a reasonably balanced mix of foods. Forcing your child to eat or punishing her when she doesn't will only backfire, giving you a child who is angry or obsessed with food.

Do encourage your child to at least accept the presence of what is served on her plate. She doesn't have to eat it, but she does have to be gracious about it. Teach her not to openly criticize foods she doesn't like.

Some families permit a child to make a peanut butter sandwich if she doesn't like the meal served. Many nutritionists recommend not allowing any substitutions, especially if you want to broaden the palate of a picky eater. I found myself becoming a short-order cook, tailoring different plates to all the different palates at your table.

It can take ten or 20 exposures to a food before your child accepts it. She may never have an adventuresome palate, but it doesn't hurt to continue offering. Many finicky kids remain this way until peer pressure and the demands of adolescent growth kick in during primary (middle school) and secondary school (high school).

Nues/Comforters/Loveys/Suckers/Pacifiers

Nues/ Loveys/Comforters/Suckers/Pacifiers

Blankets, soft toys or thumbs are some of the comforters (or pacifiers, or attachment objects) that help children relax. Sucking or holding comforters helps very young children to feel safe when they are not with their parents or other family members until they are old enough to feel OK by themselves. Sucking is pleasant and calming for babies.

                                       
At what age do children use comforters?

My son got attached to a Blanket at about 4 months old. Although some children may have it later. From 8-9 months, the need for the comforter became stronger, as he was weaned off the breast milk; especially around bedtime.

If the comforter is a blanket or soft toy it is safest to take it out of the crib when the baby is asleep if the baby is under 12 months old. I have found that my son needed his “nue” the most between age 1 and 3, as this offered a form of comfort and safety when we were away from him. Most children are usually ready to give them up by 3 to 4 years of age - at least during the day (we have not gotten to that point).

Is your child's beloved bunny or blanky, the one he used to drag all over the mall, spending more time at home? As your child becomes more independent, he may turn less to her favourite comfort object. She probably won't abandon it altogether, though.

Many kids hang on to their "loveys" or “nues” for years — and return to them during stressful times or at bedtime. Other 5-year-olds remain publicly attached to their blankies whenever possible, and that's okay, too.

Comforters are not accepted in school, so if your child hasn't started kindergarten yet, give him a chance to adjust. Try initiating a rule like "Blanky can't leave the house."

Thumb and Fingers

                                          

• Sometimes children will not take any comforter but their thumbs or fingers.

•  Thumbs and fingers are harder to give up than dummies or other comforters because they are there all the time.

•  Try to encourage your toddler or preschool child not to talk with her thumb or fingers in her mouth.

• Past the age of 3, thumb and finger sucking may cause dental problems. If this is happening for your child, you could think about whether her life is stressful, or whether this is a habit. Also talk to a dentist about it. Telling the child to stop is not usually helpful.

•  Many children go on sucking their thumbs into their teens, although this is something they tend to only do when they are concentrating on something or are tired, and is not a problem unless they are embarrassed by it. 

• One comfort object it's best not to hang onto is the thumb. Most dental experts prefer children be weaned from thumb-sucking by about age 5. Much beyond that can jeopardize the alignment of permanent teeth.

Most thumb-suckers quit during the earliest school years, sometimes by day first and then later at night. But for a persistent minority, the habit is extremely hard to kick. If your child is one of them, try to create an atmosphere in which she'll want to stop on her own. 

The more you nag and make a battle of it, the more stressed she becomes — and the more she turns to her thumb. The most common triggers of thumb-sucking are stress, boredom, and fatigue.

If a child still clings to the comforter by school age, it is important to ask what it is that is making the child worried, rather than to take the comforter away
Please feel free to leave a comment and share your experience.

Brain Development Cont'd

Do girls and boys really think differently?

Scientists are piecing together the results from the MRIs of brains of 500 healthy young boys and girls to try to answer some key questions about the development of young brains. Already, they've made some interesting findings:

In most tests, boys and girls showed very similar abilities. They were equally competent at math, raising the possibility that any gap in math skills in later years is a product of culture, not biology.

Girls were somewhat better at memorizing and reciting lists of words, and they were slightly better at tasks that required finger dexterity and quick thinking.

 

Boys had the upper hand with spatial tasks, such as arranging blocks to form patterns. 

The brain is only the beginning

According to Neurologist reviews Above all, the brain is flexible. Children build connections between brain cells, find fresh obsessions, and hone new skills as they read, listen, watch, and learn.

A girl who plays exclusively with dolls this month might move on to construction toys and blocks next month. Even if she never develops a fascination with toy cars, she may very well enjoy her bike and learn how to fix a chain (and later tune a carburetor). A boy may never pour imaginary tea for a doll, but he can learn how to take care of a pet (and later raise a baby of his own). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2989000/

Brain Development

Is the difference between boys and girls all in their heads?

We've all seen it play out: Even in families that give their girls tractors and encourage their boys to cuddle dolls, more often the girls will choose a pink pony over a fire engine, and the boys will take Thomas the Tank Engine over Tinker Bell any day.

Some of this behaviour is learned, no question about it. But the gulf between boys and girls goes deeper than upbringing, says Sheri Berenbaum, a professor of psychology and pediatrics at Pennsylvania State University.

Scientists suspect that even before birth, boys' and girls' brains are developing differently, shaping them into distinct little creatures. 

Is there a difference in boy brain and a girl brain?

Yes. We know there are physical differences between a boy's brain and a girl's, both at birth and as children grow. But at least for now, exactly how those differences affect behavior, personality, and so on is a mystery.

For example, scientists say there probably is an area of the brain that propels many boys toward things that move and many girls toward nurturing, but it has yet to be identified.
http://cercor.oxfordjournals.org/content/11/6/552.full

How a boy's brain develops in the womb

Boys in the womb are little testosterone machines. In fact, says Margaret M. McCarthy, a professor of physiology at the University of Maryland who studies early brain development, male babies are born with as much testosterone as a 25-year-old man! After birth, testosterone plummets until a boy reaches puberty.

Among its many other jobs, testosterone shapes a male's developing brain. Animal studies show that it pares down the connections between brain cells (synapses) in some places and bulks them up in other places.

One study found that both male and female rats who were exposed to extra testosterone before birth performed better at maze tests shortly after birth. While scientists aren't ready to draw conclusions about humans based on this study, it is an indicator that testosterone may improve spatial reasoning. 

Animal studies also show that in any male, some regions make connections typical of males, but some parts remain feminine. "There's really no such thing as a completely male brain," McCarthy says. "It's a mosaic of male and female."

How a girl's brain develops in the womb

Girls make some testosterone before they're born, too, but not nearly as much as boys, Berenbaum explains. And while girls do produce female hormones such as estrogen, these seem to have little impact on their developing brains.

In other words, girls have the brain that boys would have if theirs weren't reshaped by testosterone.

Comparing boys' and girls' brains as they grow

Once girls and boys are born, their brains continue to take different paths. MRI studies show that some areas grow faster in female brains while others grow faster in male brains. So, the brains of boys and girls who are the same age can be at different developmental stages. Eventually, though, they catch up with each other.

Size also varies. Male brains grow slightly larger than female brains, although the significance of this isn't clear.

Some research has shown that in girls, the region of the brain that helps control language and emotion – called the caudate – tends to be larger. (This part of the brain becomes especially active when someone looks at a photo of a sweetheart.)

Some studies also indicate that part of the larger corpus callosum, which connects the two sides of the brain, is larger in girls than in boys. Some scientists think this could mean that girls tend to use both the left and right sides to solve problems.

In studies on rats, males have been found to have a slightly larger amygdala, a region of the brain that controls deeper emotions, such as fear.

These seemingly small differences in brain structure don't necessarily mean boys will be better at certain things and girls at others. As Berenbaum explains, young brains are extremely plastic, and key regions grow or shrink depending on how they're used.

Do women tend to cry more easily than men because their brains are built to make them that way? Or are their brains shaped by their emotions? Or is it a little bit of both? We just don't know yet.

Adding to the mystery, individuals simply don't always conform to the stereotypes. There are plenty of "tomboys" who show little interest in dolls, and boys who are drawn to "girl" activities from an early age. These kids are well within the norm.  https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/nih-study-tracks-brain-development-some-500-children-across-us

Please share your personal experiences and comments

Raising Boys and Girls: Differences in Development

As a parent who is raising both a son and a daughter I can offer a list of differences between the two genders. My son is a ball of energy all the time, while my daughter could spend all afternoon with a book, also, My daughter was an early talker, but my son was too busy playing with his cars and trucks to chat with us or his sister. 

Boys and girls develop differently in a few ways, and researchers are always studying the genes, hormones, and brain chemistry that might explain some of these differences. Of course, an individual child's development may not fit neatly within gender lines, but learning about the general ways in which boys and girls differ as they grow can help prepare parents for early childhood and beyond.

Physical Growth

Between the big growth stages of infancy and adolescence, boys and girls grow in height and weight at about the same slow but steady rate. There aren't notable differences between the sexes until late primary/elementary school – that's when girls start to grow taller faster, although boys catch up and exceed them within a few years.

Motor skills

Boys' gross motor skills (running, jumping, balancing) tend to develop slightly faster, while girls' fine motor skills (holding a pencil, writing) improve first. For this reason, girls may show an interest in art (painting, colouring, crafts) before boys.

Boys are also more physically aggressive and impulsive, as revealed by studies of their brains. The pleasure centre of the brain actually lights up more for boys when they take risks. That's not to say that girls aren't active risk-takers, only that, on average, boys are more so.

Individual variation and experience matter quite a bit. Boys raised in a household where art and music are appreciated may want to learn a musical instrument rather than play football, and girls raised in a physically active environment may love to go rock climbing. On the other hand, some boys raised in a sporty family may prefer drawing or music, while some girls raised in an artistic environment would rather play sports.

Verbal skills 

Researchers say it's possible that sex-related genes or hormones account for the different ways the brains of boys and girls react to human speech.

More boys than girls are late talkers, and boys may use more limited vocabularies. Girls tend to be better at reading nonverbal signs, like tone of voice and expression, which also makes them better communicators earlier, because they can connect feelings and words faster.

Toilet Training

On average, girls are potty trained earlier than boys, though it's unclear whether this is due to physical or social differences. Mothers generally do the training, and it may be easier for a girl to identify with someone of the same gender. Fewer girls wet the bed too.

Fathers should be a little more involved in the training of boys, as it is easier for them to identify with daddy. This might be a bit ackward for men, but could possibly aid in the timely training of the you lad. 

Resources

AAP. 2015a. Gender identity development in children. American Academy of Pediatrics. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/gradeschool/Pages/Gender-Identity-and-Gender-Confusion-In-Children.aspx [Accessed May 2018]

AAP. 2015b. Physical development: What's normal? What's not? American Academy of Pediatrics. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/gradeschool/puberty/pages/Physical-Development-Whats-Normal-Whats-Not.aspx [Accessed May 2018]

Boes A, et al. 2009. Right ventromedial prefrontal cortex: a neuroanatomical correlate of impulse control in boys. Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience 4(1):1-9. http://scan.oxfordjournals.org/content/4/1/1.full [Accessed May 2018]

Junaid KA, et al. 2006. Gender differences in the attainment of motor skills on the Movement Assessment Battery for Children. Physical & Occupational Therapy in Pediatrics 26(1-2):5-11.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16938822 [Accessed May 2018]