Women World

Twelve-year-old Cindy woke up one morning and felt familiar pain in her lower belly. She knew what it was and grumbled, "Oh, no. Here comes another period." Cindy started her period over a year ago. She's learned to handle using pads and tampons, but...

Twelve-year-old Cindy woke up one morning and felt...

When will you get your period? That's a big question for girls who are waiting for their very first periods. It's also on the minds of girls who have just started getting periods because — especially for younger girls — periods don't always come exac...

When will you get your period? That's a big questi...

How Do I Tell My Mom or Dad That I Got My First Period? It's normal to feel a little shy about sharing this bit of news. In some families, talking about body stuff might seem like no big deal. With this kind of family, they might take you out to dinn...

How Do I Tell My Mom or Dad That I Got My First Pe...

Lots of girls wonder when their period will start, but they also might wonder: Do they ever end? The answer is yes. A woman may stop getting her period for a variety of reasons: She's having a health problem. She's pregnant. She's reached menopause ...

Lots of girls wonder when their period will start,...

Honk! Squeak! What the heck is that? A goose playing the trumpet? If you're going through puberty (say: pyoo-ber-tee), it could be your voice. Both boys and girls experience voice changes as they grow older, but girls' voices get only a little deeper...

Honk! Squeak! What the heck is that? A goose playi...

When most adults think about exercise, they imagine working out in the gym on a treadmill or lifting weights. But for kids, exercise means playing and being physically active. Kids exercise when they have gym class at school, during recess, at dance...

When most adults think about exercise, they imagin...

I want to try to reform my daughter’s unhealthy eating habits. But I am worried that by not letting her eat high-calorie, high-fat junk food, I’ll be paving the way for her to develop an eating disorder. I want her to be healthy, but I don’t want to ...

I want to try to reform my daughter’s unhealthy ea...

Buying lunch at school may be the first time kids get to call the shots on which foods they'll eat. Luckily, school lunches have improved over the years, both in taste and nutrition, with many serving healthier dishes, such as grilled chicken sandwic...

Buying lunch at school may be the first time kids ...

It would be great if the whole family could enjoy a breakfast of homemade whole-wheat pancakes and fresh berries, but that's not the reality in many households. Mornings can be a mad dash, with one or more family members grabbing something to eat on ...

It would be great if the whole family could enjoy ...

It's no surprise that parents might need some help understanding what it means to eat healthy. From the MyPlate food guide to the latest food fad, it can be awfully confusing. The good news is that you don't need a degree in nutrition to raise health...

It's no surprise that parents might need some help...

Few kids would say they crave a good fiber-rich meal. Although the thought of fiber might bring gags and groans from kids, many appetizing foods are actually great sources of fiber — from fruits to whole-grain cereals. And kids are probably eating th...

Few kids would say they crave a good fiber-rich me...

As with carbohydrates in recent years, fats have been wrongly accused of being "bad." Too much fat can be a bad thing, but fat is an essential nutrient and some are definitely better than others. Certain kinds of fat are actually good for us and are ...

As with carbohydrates in recent years, fats have b...

Eating well during pregnancy is more than simply increasing how much you eat. You must also consider what you eat. Although you need about 300 extra calories a day — especially later in your pregnancy, when your baby grows quickly — those calories s...

Eating well during pregnancy is more than simply i...

Most parents probably don't think about what cholesterol means for their kids. But high levels of cholesterol are a major factor contributing to heart disease and stroke, and medical research shows that cardiovascular disease has its roots in childho...

Most parents probably don't think about what chole...

I know that at some point kids should drink skim milk as part of a low-fat diet. But what's the right age to switch kids from whole milk to skim milk? - Sheila Breast milk is the food of choice for at least the first year or beyond. Cow's milk should...

I know that at some point kids should drink skim m...

I have a 5-year-old son. Is he too young to start exercising? - Emily Encouraging kids to be physically active is important at any age. In fact, kids who are active at a young age tend to stay active later in life — and have a lower risk of becoming ...

I have a 5-year-old son. Is he too young to start ...

Preschoolers love being physically active, so it's no wonder that it's often hard to keep them in one place. The solution is to work with their high energy levels. It's important to keep them safe, of course, but give them plenty of opportunities to ...

Preschoolers love being physically active, so it's...

What Kind of Activity? There's nothing cuter than a bunch of preschoolers playing T-ball or soccer, but is it the best way for them to be active? Probably not. Team sports offer a chance for preschoolers to meet each other and get some exercise, but...

What Kind of Activity? There's nothing cuter than...

My 12-year-old son is gaining weight quite rapidly. He was always "just right" until middle-school homework cut into his play time. Should I start him on an exercise program? - Rose As kids get older, they often have more homework and other responsib...

My 12-year-old son is gaining weight quite rapidly...

The other day I heard my 13-year-old daughter complain, “I’m fat.” She's started to stay away from family meals and says she's not hungry. I’m upset that she’s already worried about her weight and that she may be developing an eating disorder. How do...

The other day I heard my 13-year-old daughter comp...

My 2-year-old used to be a pretty good eater. But now she's going through a phase where she won't even try the vegetables I serve. How can I get more veggies into her mouth and off the floor? - Mila As most parents know, there are two things you can'...

My 2-year-old used to be a pretty good eater. But ...