Not sure if I am posting this in the wrong place but here goes! Would you tell DDs teacher that she has started her period?

[pinkbubble]

DD2 is in YR6, bless her, although she is one of the eldest in her class, maturity wise she is still fairly immature.

Just really feel for this young lady, guess its a bit of a shock for both of us, just wondered if I told her Teacher just in case it happened at Sch she would have a port of call. Don't think I could tell her TA as she is a bit hard to talk too.

I keep thinking that in 9 months time she will be at Secondary Sch, I know I definately wouldn't tell Teachers there. Guess I am not ready yet for DD2 to grow up yet - unfortunately her body is telling me otherwise!

Sorry if I have posted this in the wrong place, have no idea where to post it.

That's interesting Katemash. 10 years ago there was only 1 year 6 girl at the school where I taught who had started her periods.

At my current school there are about 10!

Gosh thats high! I know of one other child in DDs year (2 form entry)

dd1 started her periods about three months ago. They swim every week with school so I had to inform the (male!) teacher, no option! She has tried tampons but really doesn't like them (though I may buy her some different ones to try).

I also spoke to the school secretary, to check that there were toilets with sanitary bins in the cubicles, and to ask what I did about writing notes to excuse her from swimming. Secretary told me that she is not the first to start her periods in her year so the teacher is quite used to it.

Dd1 was initially horrified at the thought of her teacher knowing, but when I said there were others (which she wasn't aware of at all, so that comforted her that it wasn't obvious to everyone) she felt a bit better about it.

(we are in Scotland though, she is in P7, which is roughly the equivalent of first year of secondary school, so naturally more starters).

Miaou, DD1 couldn,t get on with tampax (the normal ones)but uses tampax compact with no difficulties.

I did mention to DD2 about using them but TBH she is still in shock and said there would be no way on this earth that she would be sticking anything up there! In fact she was most indignant!

I will give her time and of course lots of reassurance. It really has brought home how little she actually knew and what I had thought she knew!

Oh goodness. I thought you meant the teacher had started but not noticed.

I would talk to your DD first and ask if she would like to the teacher to know. If your DD needs support she could just ask the teacher without her knowing before hand. OTOH if the teacher did know, she could bring it up with your DD occasionally letting her know she was there to help if needed.

Yes please tell her teacher. I started my periods early in year 6 (I was just 10!) and was the only girl in the school to have them - i remember coming on one day and not having anything but all the staff knew and they handled it really well.

Yes, please tell the teacher. I remember teaching year 6 many moons ago and a number of girls had started their periods. I remember one girl who was very confused and in a lot of pain ( as you are) and it would not have been able to react to her appropriately if I hadn't known what was going on.

Can you ask dd if she'd mind you talking to her teacher? I agree with the other posts here that it sounds like a good idea but if dd would be mortified then maybe it would be better not? I don't think I would have wanted my mum to speak to my teacher about it but I was a bit shy at times.

Love Custy's idea of doing/buying something to celebrate.

Hello again - katemash here with new name! Littlefish, you're right, it's so interesting. All this puberty stuff is the most interesting stuff I see in my clinics! Will definitely look up those book titles for you next week, pinkbubble. Alternatively, you could go onto amazon and type in puberty under the books section and see what you think!

I can't imagine what it must be like for girlies at primary school starting - I was in 5th form and had the p* taken out of me for starting so late!!

Does the school have facilities for disposal of towels? They ought to, but not all junior schools do adn I know it is a point many parents raise.
As an ex-teacher, I would tell your DDs teacher. It might be an issue if they do PE, swimming and anything where she has to undress etc.

My first reaction was no too but then I realised that she isn't in secondary school yet.

I wasn't that close to my mother and started in the first year of secondary school and it was horrible - I used to try and hide it and becuase my periods were horrendously heavy my life was hell.

I would talk to her teacher if she is nice and likely to treat your dd gently. She can also try to help your dd head off any nastiness from other kids by having something like a code word when your dd is having her period so that the teacher can understand things like the need for extra toilet trips.

I was bullied in primary school because I already had boobs and I even heard mothers saying to their daughters and other mothers "AuntieMaggie must have started her period" which was really heartwarming .

I have numberous nightmare stories I could share with you but hopefully by telling your DD's teacher about it she will have the support she needs and by the time she goes to secondary school she will have the confidence to deal with it on her own.

Good luck.

I would so she was able to leave the class if she needed too.

Just had a quick look on Amazon, have no idea which titles are the best. There seems to be lots.

I would check with the teacher - mainly because I know our school primary school toilets don't have sanitary disposal bins.

A friends daughter had to go into the staff toilets (having asked in the staff room first )
Buy a cool pencil case that the pads/tampons fit in and perhaps some pretty nappy sacks so if there aren't any sanitary bins she can wrap it and stick it back in the special pencil case and bring it home.

the jumper round the waist is a great idea.

Good idea about the pencil case, that would be really discreet! I was going to get a wash bag/makeup bag for her to take back.

Also a spare pair of pants just incase - hopefully your DDs period won't be as heavy as mine but it always helps just incase.

I've taught y6 and would say yes tell. There are no facilities to dispose of sanitary items in the children's toilets at our school and we make staff toilets available to the girls if they would prefer to use them.

Spoke to both of DD2s teachers today, they were fab!

They have told me to tell her she is allowed to go to the toilet at anytime. They will keep an eye out for her and thanked me for telling them. I feel so relieved, They gave me a couple of books for her to read.

PS they were just as shocked as I was about her starting as she is such a slight thing!