Do you remember how you felt when you got your first period? Were you excited? Nervous? Embarrassed? Proud? If a child or teen in your life has their period (or will have their first period soon), it’s a good idea to talk openly about this, to help de-stigmatise the conversation around periods and to encourage them to make choices that are good for them and the planet.
Talk about periods
The way we talk about menstruation in our homes can help set the tone for how young people feel about their changing bodies. In a recent study, one-third of parents said they feel uncomfortable talking to their children about periods. Talking about periods can feel awkward, especially when those conversations are new. Saalt, helps people make educated choices in period care and have open, honest conversations about periods. These early discussions are vital for setting the tone that periods are a normal and healthy part of the human experience.
Have a young person in your life you want to talk with about periods or reusable period care? Consider this your period conversation starter kit…
- First, think about your own experience and the way your mindset and expectations influence the way you talk about periods.
- What was your own puberty experience like? Who did you talk to? What was helpful and what do you wish was different?
- What are the assumptions you’re bringing to conversations about periods? What message will those assumptions send to your teen? If you don’t want to send that message, what might you need to change about your own mindset?
- What things have you already talked about with your child or teen when it comes to periods? What do you expect they already know?
- How have you responded to young people’s questions about periods in the past? Is that how you want to respond or is there something you want to change?
- What do you do if someone asks a question about menstrual cycles or period care that you don’t know the answer to?
Top tip – If you don’t know how to answer something. try “I’m not sure. Let’s find out together!” and make your research collaborative.
A few conversation starters to get things going:
- Thinking about getting my period makes me feel ___________.
- Every period is different. What is your period like? Heavy or light? Crampy or not? Short or long?
- What period care products do you use, and why did you choose them? Are there others you’ve tried or considered? What was it like when you tried something new?
- How do you feel about the idea of using a Saalt Cup?
- Have you ever used a reusable period care product before? What are positive things you like about reusable alternatives? What things do you still have questions about?
- Who are the friends or people you’ll talk to when you have questions about your period?
The conversation doesn’t end here, but talking through these questions can help you get started or expand the conversations you’ve already begun.
Why not go for Saalt’s Teen Cup (£25, www.saaltco.uk this exciting new addition to the Saalt Menstrual Cup range helps to serve the needs of younger people just learning about periods and deciding how to care for their menstruating bodies. By choosing Teen Cup, Saalt opens the door for more young people to discover sustainable period care early in their menstruating life.
