Florida legislators don’t want teachers to talk with kids about racism or being gay. Soon we might be able to add puberty to the list of verboten subjects. The state is considering a bill that would ban elementary school teachers from talking about puberty and menstruation with students, many of whom would already be experiencing those changes firsthand. It’s hard to believe this is America in 2023.
As the mom of a tween girl, I’m constantly amazed by the wealth of resources about periods and puberty on the market these days. While my generation had dog-eared copies of "Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret," my daughter and her peers are lucky enough to have an entire shelf full of body-positive books.
Newer products like period underwear and swimsuits can ease anxieties as kids navigate their first years of menstruation. Apps designed with tweens and teens in mind can help them learn to keep track of their cycle to reduce surprises. And the concept of period poverty is on the radar not only of young activists, but of corporations like CVS, which last year cut the price on its store-brand tampons, pads, liners and cups to reduce what its CEO called “menstrual inequity.”
