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E-book Healthy Bodies Boys
Puberty can be a stressful and confusing time, especially for you and your son with an Intellectual and/or Developmental Disability (I/DD). In spite of delays in other areas, children with I/DD usually enter puberty around the same time as other children their age. Some boys with I/DD, including those with spina bifida and cerebral palsy, may start puberty early (called precocious puberty). This toolkit gives you resources and tips on how to talk to your son about these sensitive topics. Use the formal words for body parts (e.g., penis, erection) and bodily functions (e.g., urinate, ejaculation). This prevents confusion and gives your son words to use later when learning about puberty, cleanliness, and reproduction. See Teaching Body Parts Appendix for a visual you can use to teach your son the names for body parts and how his body is changing. You know the ways your child learns best. Teach about puberty the same way you teach about other important topics. For example, if your son learns best with repetition, break information down into simple facts and review them often. If he learns best with pictures, try using visual supports or social stories. These supports make hard-to-understand topics clearer. Review the supports we have developed to get ideas about how to teach skills (see Teaching Body Parts Appendix). Change them to fit your son’s learning style.
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