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Terri Couwenhoven
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The Girls' Guide to Growing Up: Choices & Changes in the Tween Years Paperback – December 8, 2011

by Terri Couwenhoven (Author)
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 83 ratings
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The Girls' Guide to Growing Up: Choices and Changes in the Tween Years
The Girls' Guide to Growing Up: Choices and Changes in the Tween Years
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Here's a book just for girls beginning a new phase of their lives! This appealing and easy-to-follow guide for girls with intellectual disabilities is an introduction to the physical and emotional changes they'll encounter during puberty. Written on a third-grade reading level for preteens or young teenaged girls to read by themselves or with a parent, it's filled with age-appropriate facts, illustrations and photos, icons, and a Q&A. The Girls' Guide to Growing Up advises girls about their changing bodies, privacy issues, and how to feel their best, including: • What is puberty? • Outside changes (height & shape, breasts & bras, body hair, skin & blemishes, body odor & deodorant) • Inside changes (moodiness & handling your feelings, sexual feelings & what to do about them, flirting do's & don't's) • Periods (what to expect, using a pad) • Hygiene (keeping face & body clean, showering) • Privacy, Safety & Social Appropriateness (private parts, rules for who can touch you & when, rules for touching others, what to do if you feel unsafe) The Girls' Guide to Growing Up is written by an experienced sex educator who specializes in working with people with intellectual disabilities and who is also the author of the popular Teaching Children with Down Syndrome about Their Bodies, Boundaries, and Sexuality (see page 13). Parents, physicians, schools, and support groups will want to share this encouraging book with girls to help answer their questions about puberty and reassure them it's all part of growing up.
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  1. Print length
    60 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Woodbine House
  4. Publication date
    December 8, 2011
  5. Dimensions
    6 x 0.25 x 9 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1606130269
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1606130261
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

Flipping through the book, it's easy to see that it has good, practical and straightforward information on body changes, bras, hygiene, periods, sexual feelings, and privacy, all at a level that tweens with intellectual disabilities would be interested in without going into more information than can be processed. --Terri Mauro, About.com Guide to Parenting Special Needs

About the Author

Terri Couwenhoven, M.S., is an AASECT certified sexuality educator who specializes in working with people with intellectual disabilities, their families, and the professionals who support them. She is the author of Teaching Children with Down Syndrome about their Bodies, Boundaries and Sexuality: A Guide for Parents and Professionals and other publications. When she is not teaching, she is Clinic Coordinator for the Down Syndrome Clinic of Wisconsin at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin. Terri has two daughters, her oldest has Down syndrome.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Woodbine House (December 8, 2011)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 60 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1606130269
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1606130261
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 5.1 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.25 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 83 ratings

About the author

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Terri Couwenhoven

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Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
83 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the information in the book clear, simple, and practical. They appreciate the appropriate level of details and themes. Readers mention the book is great for daughters on the sex spectrum, girls with Down syndrome, and those with disabilities.

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Clarity of informationSex spectrum
10 customers mention "Clarity of information"10 positive0 negative

Customers find the book's explanations simple and paired with visuals. They appreciate the appropriate level of details, pictures, and themes. Readers mention the larger font makes it easier to read.

"...The information is written in a clear, no frill, practical format with LOTS of very (graphic) helpful pictures that are also tasteful...." Read more

"This was perfect for my teenager on the spectrum. Pictures and written simply...." Read more

"...She enjoyed reading it and the simple explanations paired with visuals is exactly what she needed!..." Read more

"...Other than that, it was am easy read for her" Read more

4 customers mention "Sex spectrum"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the book great for daughters on the spectrum, girls with Down syndrome, and autism. They also say it's a good guide for growing girls.

"This was perfect for my teenager on the spectrum. Pictures and written simply...." Read more

"Great for girls with Down syndrome!..." Read more

"It Is a Good Guide for Growing Girls!..." Read more

"Great books for Autistic girls...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

Carol AnCel
5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Have
Reviewed in the United States on February 9, 2012
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I purchased this book back in December when it was first released to have for my 11 year old daughter with Down Syndrome. The book arrived around the same time a friend's daughter (ASD) had her first period so it was put to the test immediately and passed with flying colors!! It covered all the necessary information in a form that her daughter was able to use to successfully manage the surprise onset of her periods! ( she is also 11 and mom thought she had more time so no preparation had been done.)

The information is written in a clear, no frill, practical format with LOTS of very (graphic) helpful pictures that are also tasteful. We also loved the larger font that makes it easier to read. My own daughter has read this book repeatedly and she has asked many good questions that prove she is understanding the content!

I really can not say enough about this book! If you have a young lady with a developmental disability, you really NEED this book. Unlike the other books about sexuality, this one is written FOR the kids. It has been passed around within our group and everyone has loved it.

The only complaint so far has come from the parents of BOYS! They need a book talking about the issues relating to puberty for their sons!

Well done and thank you for writing it!
8 people found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Great for daughter on the spectrum
Reviewed in the United States on December 28, 2019
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This was perfect for my teenager on the spectrum. Pictures and written simply. We went through it together a few times, then I had her put it on her bookshelf. Every now and then I see it on her bed which makes me think she uses it as a reference every now and then to help undercover body her own way instead of me telling her over and over again (which is what I wanted). It allows her to get comfortable and understand on her terms. Would definitely recommend for anyway, but great for those with disabilities.
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Sarah Bee
5.0 out of 5 stars Great for girls with Down syndrome!
Reviewed in the United States on July 12, 2020
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Great book for my 12 year old with Down syndrome. She enjoyed reading it and the simple explanations paired with visuals is exactly what she needed! It was helpful to me as a mom too to learn how to explain certain concepts !
One person found this helpful
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Mamasmilk
4.0 out of 5 stars Great book
Reviewed in the United States on December 9, 2016
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I love this book for my 9 year old. There is a section about masturbation that I felt could have been left out. Too much for my kid so we skipped it. Other than that, it was am easy read for her
One person found this helpful
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BBB
5.0 out of 5 stars Aspey girl's fears were calmed by this book
Reviewed in the United States on November 14, 2012
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An Asperger's 11-year-old worked through this book with her mom and now she's not afraid of getting her period some day. She feels prepared with knowledge. This book was a good start before they moved on to the next book in their "puberty studies at my own pace" class, The Care and Keeping of You from the American Girls series of books. I borrowed it and read the whole book in just 20 minutes. Good layout, helpful photos and pictures. Any girl could benefit from exposure to this book.
4 people found this helpful
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dj
5.0 out of 5 stars It Is a Good Guide for Growing Girls!
Reviewed in the United States on October 12, 2015
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This purchase was intended as gifts for others. We purchased this book years ago for our personal use for future planning -my daughter was probably 9 at the time. It is simple and straightforward and worked extremely well for our purposes. My daughter has Down syndrome and handled it so well when her cycle came that others were amazed. No need, just months of repetition with good information. I highly recommend this book!
One person found this helpful
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Marcy Mock
5.0 out of 5 stars Just what I wanted
Reviewed in the United States on June 15, 2013
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I am a special ed. teacher. Usually our school nurse teaches family life to our fifth graders. This year it was left to the teachers. I was very nervous. I ended up making a presentation from different resources from the internet. I found this book just before the date to teach family life. I loved how they gave simple clear rules for flirting. The book was well organized. It discussed matters in simplest terms.
5 people found this helpful
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Carrie G
5.0 out of 5 stars Highly Recommend!
Reviewed in the United States on October 22, 2017
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This was a great book and very helpful to guiding conversations with my child. I appreciate the appropriate level of details, pictures and themes. Very straight forward and concrete in explanations. I highly recommend this book.
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Top reviews from other countries

Karen griffin
5.0 out of 5 stars I found this an excellent resource for my 13 yr old special needs daughter
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 24, 2016
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I found this an excellent resource for my 13 yr old special needs daughter. Very simple and easy to follow
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Mother of 4
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book for every Young Girl!
Reviewed in Canada on June 5, 2012
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This is a great book for young girls 7 years and up. This is a great tool to talk about puberty to your daughters. You can read it to your daughter, and later she can re-read parts on her own. The font is large and there are lots of pictures. The book is only 50+ pages but it covers a lot of material. It covers subjects like breast development, pubic hair, acne, body odor, mood swings, sexual feelings, masturbation,and menstruation. There is a section on how to change your pad and how often. There is also section with common Questions and Answers about periods. There is an emphases put on communicating that this subject matter is PRIVATE and your body is PRIVATE. This is especially helpful to younger children or special needs children who do not yet know; when, what and where certain things are appropriate.

This book does not cover subjects in great detail regarding body part names, male bodies and their changes, or how a baby is conceived or grows. I bought a chapter book as well (The 'What's Happening to My Body?' Book for Girls) which is a good partner with this book. In the chapter book there are a lot of details about every subject related to sexuality. The Girl's Guide to Growing Up is good because it can be read from cover to cover in one sitting.

This book is perfect for young girls 7-10 years old to cover the basics about puberty. It is a great starting point for discussions and is interesting enough that they will re-read it on their own.
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Tara LC
5.0 out of 5 stars This book is great, it has very graphic pictures which makes it ...
Reviewed in Canada on December 7, 2016
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My daughter has an intellectual disability, and I knew this would be a tricky subject for us. This book is great, it has very graphic pictures which makes it easier for her to understand. It's repetitive, and has boxes of texts to really hit home what is 'private' versus what is 'public', which is so very important. We have already gone through parts of it, and I really felt like the book was a huge help. I would suggest going through and reading this yourself first, so you can decide what, if anything, needs to wait for your daughter to learn about.
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 2, 2014
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My 10 yr old daughter has high functioning autism and loves this book. It clearly but simply explains puberty.
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Hayley Johanson
4.0 out of 5 stars its a nice book. I would like to find one a ...
Reviewed in Canada on February 3, 2017
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its a nice book. I would like to find one a little more simplified for a special needs child, but its a good book and she likes it!
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