The Peaceful Parenting Podcast The Crucial Years, Parenting In The Six to Twelve (6-12) Years with Dr. Sheryl Gonzalez Ziegler: Episode 199
Jun 18, 2025
In this engaging conversation, Dr. Sheryl Gonzalez Ziegler, a licensed clinical psychologist and author of 'The Crucial Years,' shares valuable insights on navigating middle childhood. She emphasizes the importance of normalizing and celebrating puberty, discussing historical changes in its timing. Dr. Ziegler offers strategies for teaching children moderation with screens and highlights red flags of disordered eating, encouraging open communication about these crucial topics. Her holistic approach provides parents with tools to foster emotional growth and healthy habits.
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Earlier Puberty Changes Childhood
- Puberty now occurs earlier, often between ages 8 to 12 for girls and 9 to 13 for boys.
- This shifts how children experience middle childhood, making conversations about puberty essential earlier than before.
Red Parties Celebrate Puberty
- A "red party" celebrates a girl's first period with friends and family to normalize puberty.
- Such celebrations help children view puberty as a positive milestone rather than a shameful experience.
Making Puberty Positive for Boys
- Sheryl normalizes puberty signs in her boys by framing pimples and deodorant use as positive milestones.
- She uses these moments to build acceptance and ease embarrassment for her sons.
