theChat.scot

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Children can often hear the word hormones in a light-hearted way when emotions run high: “Oh that must be the hormones”. So, what are hormones? This is something they might want to explore themselves in more depth, it is a fascinating topic, but the answers here are brief.

When you are chatting, your child might ask more about puberty or periods. You can look at our response to other questions: What is puberty? What is a period? You can also go to our Talking About section and find more about talking and learning together about puberty, periods and lots more, depending on your child’s age.

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3, 4 and 5-year-olds

Children of this age are unlikely to ask this questions, but if they overhear a chat, or hear the word used, you can adapt the response below for 6- to 8-year-olds.

6, 7 and 8-year-olds

Puberty is the time in your life when your body begins to change because you are growing up. Some changes you can see. Some changes happen inside your body. Puberty changes happen between the ages of 9 and 16. All the changes that happen during puberty are caused by chemicals in your body called hormones. Everybody has hormones. Hormones are like tiny messengers in your body that tell different parts what to do, helping you to grow and feel emotions.

(As you know) Puberty is the time in your life when your body begins to change because you are growing up. Some changes you can see. Some changes happen inside your body. You can’t see these. You can have stronger emotions and new feelings.

Puberty changes happen over several years. Usually between the ages of 9 and 16. Some changes in your body might be happening now, some will happen later. This is different for everybody. All the changes that happen during puberty are caused by chemicals in your body called hormones. Everybody has hormones. They are especially important during puberty. At puberty your brain increases the levels of these hormones. Depending on whether you’re a boy or a girl, these hormones go to work on different parts of the body, all helping you to grow and develop into a young person and adult.

A more in-depth explanation for older children is available in this animation called How do your hormones work? https://youtu.be/-SPRPkLoKp8 (5 minutes 3 seconds)

And for those especially interested here is information about the key hormones that have a part to play in puberty:

• The GnRH hormone is produced by the hypothalamus and signals to the pituitary gland to release LH and FSH hormones – which then stimulate the ovaries in females to produce estrogen and progesterone, and the testes in men to produce testosterone.
• Estrogen and progesterone are responsible for many of the physical changes that occur for girls during puberty, like breast development and the start of periods.
• Testosterone is responsible for many of the physical changes that occur for boys during puberty such as increased muscle mass, deeper voice and facial hair growth.

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