Question
My child is a boy, 11 years old, and he started growing taller from 10 and a half years old. He is now 160 cm tall, has acne on his face, and some pubic hair has grown. Is it precocious puberty?
Answer
Early onset of puberty does not necessarily mean precocious puberty. Precocious puberty typically refers to the sexual development of girls at 8 years old and boys under 9 years old. The sequence of male sexual development includes the increase in testicular volume, increased penile thickness, the growth of armpit hair, deepening of voice, and the growth of facial hair. The entire process takes about 5 years. After the appearance of secondary sexual characteristics, children’s height and weight will increase rapidly, social activities will increase, psychological adaptability will strengthen but also be prone to fluctuations. During puberty, children are prone to changes in emotions, partner issues, career choices, moral evaluations, and life views. Parents can guide them from the side to help them stabilize their emotions and personality. Once personality is formed, it becomes relatively stable.