Navigating Puberty: Embracing Emotional Growth with Support and Awareness - Shahar Banu

Today's session on Puberty and Its Impact on Emotions and Behaviour by Ms. Shikha Agnihotri was truly interactive and engaging.

Ma’am ensured active participation from everyone, and rightly so—the topic itself sparked genuine curiosity among the listeners. She emphasized how puberty influences not just physical growth but also significantly impacts one’s mind and behaviour.

I was especially glad to witness the enthusiastic involvement of the students throughout the session. It has certainly made it easier for me to approach this sensitive topic with more confidence and clarity in the classroom.

A heartfelt thank you to My Good School for inviting such insightful speakers to address relevant and timely issues.

Regards,

Shahar Banu

Dean Academics

Sunbeam School, Ballia

My Good School, Sunday 29th June 2025

YES Workshop with Shikha Agnihotri of Right Side Story

Discussion on puberty, growing up, and adolescence with high school students, led by Shikha Agnihotri from Right Side Story.

Key Takeaways

• Puberty involves both physical and emotional changes that are beyond one's control; understanding these changes helps normalize the experience ("puberty is not a race")

• Students shared insights on mood swings, emotional changes, and physical transformations during puberty, demonstrating awareness but also misconceptions

• The session highlighted communication as a key strategy for handling difficult emotions and relationships during adolescence

• Gender differences in puberty were discussed, including societal expectations and biological differences, with emphasis on respect for all genders

Topics

Understanding Puberty and Growth

• Puberty defined as a "software update" in the mind and body, signaling transition from childhood

• Students recognized puberty is influenced by genetics and occurs at different ages for different people

• Physical changes discussed included body odor, voice changes (Adam's apple in boys), muscle development

• Brain "rewiring" during puberty leads to feelings of independence and new emotional experiences

• Girls and boys experience different physical changes but both face hormonal shifts (testosterone vs. estrogen)

Emotional Changes During Puberty

• Students identified negative emotions experienced: anxiety, jealousy, frustration, irritation, depression

• Positive emotions noted: happiness from recognition, validation, success, achievement

• Discussion of mood swings affecting both genders, not just girls as commonly believed

• Students expressed challenges with controlling emotions during puberty

• Shikha emphasized emotions during puberty are often temporary but intense, requiring patience

Friendship and Relationships During Adolescence

• Students debated whether friendship affects puberty or puberty affects friendship

• Trust issues in friendships were highlighted as a challenge during puberty

• Advice given: when hurt by friends, communicate within 24 hours rather than avoiding the issue

• Self-inflicted independence during puberty can strain relationships with parents and authority figures

• Importance of finding trusted adults to discuss difficult decisions emphasized

Self-Image and Body Awareness

• Students noted increased focus on appearance during puberty (clothes, hygiene, physical features)

• Discussion about boys becoming more conscious about their physical appearance (muscles, height)

• Girls discussed increased attention to skincare, makeup, and fashion choices

• Hygiene importance emphasized, especially regarding body odor which increases during puberty

• Both genders experience increased self-consciousness and concern about how others perceive them

Reading Session: Animal Behavior and Taste with Brinda Ghosh

• Second half of meeting featured reading from "The Inner Life of Animals" focusing on taste in animals

• Discussed how animals have different taste preferences than humans (example: crows eating seeds from horse excrement)

• Explored how taste is adapted to different species' needs and evolutionary history

• Reading skills were emphasized, including proper use of punctuation and expression while reading

• Importance of regular reading beyond textbooks (15-20 minutes daily) was encouraged

Next Steps

• Shikha proposed separate follow-up sessions for boys and girls to discuss puberty more openly

• Future session on pronunciation and reading skills to be conducted by Brinda

• After completing current book, the group will read Gerald Durrell's works about animals

• Students encouraged to practice communication skills when dealing with emotional challenges

• Students advised to develop reading habits beyond textbooks (15-20 minutes daily)