A Parent’s Guide: Talking to Your Kids About Their Period

Breaking the stigma surrounding periods begins with open, honest conversations. Normalizing menstruation is key to building trust, offering support, and providing educational tools that help your child feel confident and prepared. With a few simple tips, you can help your daughter understand the changes happening in her body—and approach her cycle with curiosity instead of fear.

Demystifying What a Period Is

A period is a normal, monthly occurrence where blood and tissue from the uterus are shed through the cervix and out of the vagina. This typically happens every 28 days and lasts around 3 to 5 days.

But a period is just one part of the bigger picture—the menstrual cycle, which includes four unique phases and plays an essential role in overall health. When it’s taught with context and care, the cycle becomes not just understandable but genuinely fascinating. By making space for these conversations, you can turn an overwhelming topic into something empowering and even fun.

Starting the Conversation with Your Daughter

Talking about periods might feel awkward at first, but the more informed you are, the easier it becomes. Start the conversation before her first period, so she’s prepared and knows what to expect.

You set the tone. If you approach the topic with ease and openness, your daughter will feel more comfortable, too. Think about how you explained things like the tooth fairy or losing baby teeth—puberty and periods deserve that same celebratory tone.

Normalizing the Experience

Let your daughter know it’s completely normal to feel a range of emotions and physical sensations during her period. Cramping, mood changes, and fatigue can all be part of the process—but if symptoms interfere with daily life, it’s important to talk about them. Pain that’s extreme or debilitating isn’t normal and may signal a need to speak with a healthcare provider or specialist.

Teach her early on that her experience matters, and that she can always come to you with questions or concerns.

Discussing Healthy Habits

The way we care for our bodies affects everything—including our periods. When you model healthy habits, you’re teaching your daughter how to support her body, too.

Nourishing food, regular movement, good sleep, and hydration all contribute to more balanced cycles. These aren’t just wellness buzzwords—they’re foundational tools for long-term menstrual health. Many adults are forced to unlearn harmful myths they were taught as kids. You can help prevent that by teaching accurate, body-positive information from the start.

Period Product Introduction

Helping your daughter understand the different period products—and how to use them—gives her a sense of agency and preparedness.

Externally worn products like pads and period underwear are often the easiest to start with. Internally worn products—tampons, menstrual cups, and discs—take more practice, but can offer comfort and convenience once she’s ready.

Walk her through the options: how to use each product, how to dispose of them, what to look for when shopping, and any associated risks. For example, tampons are often associated with carrying a risk of menstrual toxic shock syndrome (mTSS). Remind her to use the lowest absorbency needed, and to remove the product immediately if she starts feeling flu-like symptoms.

Want support navigating these conversations?

You don’t have to do it alone. At Protect Her, we offer age-appropriate, shame-free workshops for families, schools, and community organizations.

✨ Book a session today and help the next generation feel informed, confident, and proud of their bodies.