Some 11-year-old girls are going through a period of rapid physical development and puberty. Therefore, during this period, children will have many changes, both physically and psychologically. So what should parents do to help their children develop best?
1. Physical development in 11-year-old girls
11-year-old girls have a height ranging from 1m23 to 1m52, weighing from 32kg to 45kg. Children can grow up to 10cm in height in a year during puberty. Is it early for 11-year-old girls to have their period? This is a question that many parents are interested in. In fact, at the age of 11, some girls have entered puberty and had their first menstrual cycle - this is the period of the strongest physical development. Therefore, it is completely normal for 11-year-old girls to have their period.
Some of the changes in 11-year-old girls when entering puberty include:
Breasts begin to develop
• Pubic hair and armpit hair begin to grow
• First menstruation
• Begins to get acne
• Increases body fat
• Some permanent teeth start to grow
In general, the taller and heavier the girl, the earlier puberty occurs. Accordingly, if an 11-year-old girl wants to grow taller, she needs to:
• 11-year-old girls need to spend at least 1 hour a day doing physical activities.
• Sleep between 9 and 11 hours a night.
• Time spent watching TV or playing with electronic devices should be limited to 2 hours a day or less.
• The diet should include lots of fruits, vegetables and low in fat, added sugar and salt. Drink about 3 cups of low-fat or non-fat milk a day.
SEE MORE: Is it early for 11-year-olds to have their periods?
2. The level of brain development of 11-year-old girls
The brain of 11-year-old girls continues to develop. They can understand abstract concepts and have a more multi-dimensional understanding of different emotional nuances. However, at this stage, they cannot fully understand the consequences of their actions. Although their concentration level improves, 11-year-old girls' academic performance may be unstable, and their interests may change. They begin to learn mathematical concepts such as variables, ratios, and negative numbers, and read books of higher difficulty. They can also read or write independently.
11-year-old girls are developing the ability to think logically and solve problems systematically. They must be able to understand, analyze, and evaluate the perspectives of others.
The emotional ups and downs of adolescence can disrupt behavioral and cognitive development. Children need time to gain a deeper understanding of how their behavior affects those around them and the ability to distinguish right from wrong when faced with problems.
3. Communication skills of 11-year-old girls
At age 11, girls often start to spend more time with friends instead of with their family. They begin to assert their own identity and push back against their parents' authority, leading to some conflicts in the family.
Friendships between 11-year-old girls are based on sharing and trust rather than on benefits. Confiding in peers can help children navigate the ups and downs and emotions of adolescence. Children may have romantic interests in others from this age.
11-year-old girls begin to become more aware of their bodies. Some awareness is drawn from the physical changes that are present. However, excessive anxiety about body changes during puberty can cause problems such as eating disorders and body image.
Some signs that 11-year-old girls are starting to express their own personality include: Changes in the way they dress, music genres, movies, books. Friends are an environment for children to start trying out their new ideas.
However, some harmful things can happen to children when their level of social understanding is still limited. Therefore, families need to closely monitor children and teach them the necessary knowledge to help them stay away from social evils such as:
• Substance abuse
• Smoking
• Sexual intercourse
• Self-harm
SEE MORE: What should an overweight 11-year-old do?
4. Health check-up for 11-year-old girls
When your daughter has a regular annual health check-up, you should ask the doctor to examine the following issues:
• Height and weight
• Physical development including signs of puberty (you should sit with your child during the examination)
• Any signs of abnormal curvature of the spine
• Child's vision
• Vaccination records, ensuring that children are fully vaccinated and on time
When girls are 11 years old, they have independent thinking and enter puberty, growing in height. Therefore, parents need to learn about their children's development during this period to accompany and share with their children, in order to help them be confident and develop comprehensively.
In addition, parents should not forget to take their children for regular health check-ups to monitor general health problems and intervene when necessary.
Vinmec International General Hospital has a General Health Checkup package for children under 18 years old. This is a comprehensive health checkup package, including all services to assess the child's basic functions such as: ear, nose and throat examination, eye examination, assessment of liver, kidney, heart and lung function, blood test, hepatitis test and the child's nutritional status.
To arrange an appointment, please call HOTLINE or make your reservation directly HERE. You may also download the MyVinmec app to schedule appointments faster and manage your reservations more conveniently.
Reference source: webmd.com
