My First Period Kit review for Parent Bloggers Network


Here’s a fact of life:

If you don’t tell your kids the facts of life, Audrey - the tattooed fifth grader who holds court in the back of the elementary school bus - will.

And you home schoolers don’t get too smug. I know that you guys are generally more hip and progressive in your attitudes regarding when and how to go about introducing your kidlets to the anatomically correct terms for all the birds’ and bees’ private bits and just exactly how those bits puzzle together. But I’ve heard of more than one kid unsullied by public school still getting an earful at the public pool from a group of very creative and imaginative new friends, and suddenly a group of no-name girls has convinced your daughter that, yes, you can in fact get pregnant if you kiss a boy while you’re both in your bathing suits unless you both have exactly five peppermint Tic Tacs in your mouth.

Negative peer pressure is tough to combat. Peer “education” is sometimes tougher.

For example:

I’m a pretty fantastic parent if you ask me. And my kids are, of course, all amazingly handsome and astoundingly bright. At five years old, my eldest daughter could read a book about the Titanic, and then instantly recite back passenger lists, number of life boats on deck, and draw in specific detail the decorative pattern on the steerage china. My middle child learned to count to ten in Hindi at age four, and we live nowhere near Mumbai. My two-year-old can hum various Frank Sinatra ballads in perfect pitch.

And yet, no matter how many times I relay to them some more-or-less detailed and fluid enhanced version of The Facts Of Life -

No matter how readily they can recite back the anatomically correct terms for wee-wees and hoo-haas and thumpity-thumpers -

No matter that my daughters can easily and correctly identify the varying forms, shapes, wing-span, and containment capacities of the many feminine hygiene products in the supermarket aisle -

No matter all that, all it takes is tattooed Audrey and her buddy Lara, the fourth-grader who has Cinemax in her bedroom, to announce that anyone can tell when a girl has her period because she’ll smell like a burrito and she won’t be able to remember times tables, and suddenly you're spending an entire evening convincing your daughter that, no, she cannot spend another hour in the shower after Mexican dinner night, and yes, she still has to go to math class even when she’s menstruating.

What you need is a whole other group of hip girls who know the facts and who are there to counter the Audreys and Laras of the world. What you need is a positive peer group to sit around with your daughter and ask questions and get real answers. What you need are a few more moms to back you up and confirm that the science you’re laying down on the mic is just and true. What you need is constant vigilance and continual education, attacking the peppermint Tic Tac fables from all angles, be it one-on-one or in the classroom or in print or with an After School Special (remember After School Specials?)

Or, in this case, by presenting the facts via the My First Period Kit and DVD featuring pediatrician, author, and mother Dr. Chrystal de Freitas.


My nine-year-old daughter and I recently spent an afternoon watching the My First Period DVD, and I’ve enlisted her help in reviewing the video.

From the promotion materials, My First Period Kit and DVD is a 99 minute DVD “to view with your 9-12 year old daughter.” I agree that 9-12 is a good target age for having The Period Talk, although I would feel comfortable suggesting the video for even 7-8 year old girls to view with their parent. Each child is, of course, different and can handle information better or worse at different ages and stages; but, my general opinion is that the earlier on that information is provided in small to middling doses, the less taboo it becomes.

Younger kids it seems are for the most part fairly open-minded when it comes to bodily functions of all sorts. There may be a “yuck” or “eew” element to some talk of fluids of all ilk, younger kids don’t seem to own that discomfort born of hearing from other kids or adults that some topics are - not just private - but taboo. A few whisperings that certain perfectly correct words or normal bodily functions are “bad” or “naughty” can take a bit more undoing and stop conversations before they start, so - again, while keeping your own daughter’s age and stage in mind - I’d feel comfortable recommending this DVD for at least a parent previewing to pick and choose sections to view with girls ages 7-8 and possibly even younger.

This “Healthy Chat for Girls” on Puberty and Menstruation takes the form of a discussion among about twenty mothers and daughters and lead by Dr. de Freitas, complete with PowerPoint slides, a balloon, and a demonstration of just how to place a sanitary napkin into your nether garments. Dr. de Freitas is a pediatrician who knows her stuff and who has provided this curriculum in her own children’s school. However there’s no academic stuffiness in her presentation, and she’s immediately warm and likable, conversational and a bit silly, and a typical mom-to-preteens who does say some things that sets the eleven year girls in the audience (and some of the moms) to giggling and groaning at the same time. At one point, de Freitas talks about all the different words kids might hear for “breasts”, and when she said “tits”, I had a good giddy eye roll and plaintive “MMMoooooooooooooommmm!” myself.

It’s all to the effect of adding a little levity to ease any tension, and the girls in the audience stay sufficiently entertained and attentive, as did my own daughter.

So what did my own preteen girl have to say?

Before viewing the video My First Period, I asked my daughter to first write down at least five things she knew about puberty. Then I asked her to write down five questions she had, and to see whether the video confirmed what she knew or answered her questions. I’ll preserve my daughter’s privacy by not revealing her questions, but let me just say that they were…detailed. And precise. And imaginative.

It’s a testament to Dr. de Freitas most excellent puberty education skills that all of my daughter’s questions were answered thoroughly in the DVD.

Cramps, pads, being prepared in case you get your period at school, what to do in case you’re "surprised", keeping track of your periods: all covered in clear language.

Anatomy, physical changes, emotional changes, growing up and responsibilities, along with positive ideas and affirmations for girls to help deal with and navigate the individuality of their own body’s time line and definition of “normal”: it’s in there.

A discussion of conception and birth without mention of s-e-x (That’s another video. Phew! Thank you, Dr. de Freitas. Too much celebration of facts in one afternoon can make my head explode), but with basic illustrations of the birthing process and a brief discussion of the profound responsibilities that go along with having a baby, all with an objective, I think, to address a concern that one one my daughter's once addressed to me after having a birds and bees talk:

“What do you think of what I just told you about babies and where they come from?”

“Weeeellll. Okay I guess. But….”

“But what?”

“Well, I don’t have to do all that till I grow up, right?”

“No! Of course not. Wait until after college. How’s that?”

“Okay, but now I’m definitely getting my Masters degree.”


Other review notes from my daughter include:

“The girls (in the discussion audience) look like they are friendly and cool.”

“The audience is a mix of people like you would see in real life.”

“The girls are asking good questions!”

Well, Dr. De Freitas…I think you’ve provided me with one more resource and positive peer group to combat all the Audrey’s in the back of the bus.

Although, on second thought, "combat" is too harsh a word.

Hopefully...maybe...Audrey will get her hands on your DVD.

I think that Audrey would be just as glad - more glad - to be in possession of some real facts.

I think that any girl - young or old - would revel in the real personal power provided by fact-based knowledge.

Audrey included.