Your daughter at 11
At 11,
your daughter may already have a growth spurt and the onset of puberty.
Otherwise, you probably won't have to wait long. Hang in there, things are
changing fast.
Your daughter's body
At
this age, it will probably measure between 120 and 150 cm. Its weight will
probably be between 30 and 45 kg. But at this age, your daughter has probably
entered puberty and is at the peak of her growth spurt. During this period, it
can grow up to 10 cm per year.
Her
breasts likely began to grow, and she likely developed both pubic and underarm
hair. Some girls will have their first period at this age. In general, the
taller and heavier the girl, the earlier puberty begins.
As she
gets older, your daughter is more likely to gain body fat during puberty. She
may start to develop acne. At the same time, your daughter may still have some
permanent teeth, especially her back teeth.
During
this period, your daughter needs at least one hour of physical activity a day
and she needs to sleep between 9 and 11 hours a night.
Time
spent watching TV or playing with electronic devices should be limited to 2
hours a day or less.
To
fuel this growth spurt, her diet should be high in fruits and vegetables and
low in fat, added sugar and salt. It should also include up to 3 cups of
low-fat or fat-free dairy per day.
Your daughter's brain
At 11,
your daughter's brain is still developing. She can understand abstract concepts
and begins to understand the shades of gray in the world, instead seeing things
in black and white. But she may not yet fully realize the full consequences of
her actions.
Her
academic performance may be uneven and her interests may change, even if her attention
span has increased. She can start learning math concepts like variables, ratios
and negative numbers and start reading more advanced books. She can also read
or write on her own.
Your
daughter will also develop the ability to think logically and solve problems
systematically. She must be able to understand and consider the point of view
of others.
She
needs to understand how her behavior affects others and understand what is
right and what is wrong. However, the emotional ups and downs of adolescence
can disrupt this process from time to time.
Your daughter's relationship
At age
11, your daughter will probably start spending more time with her friends and
less time with her family. She may start asserting her identity and challenging
your authority, which can lead to potential conflict.
At
this age, friendships may be based more on shared values and trust than on
common interests. Having friends among her peers can help her get through the
emotional ups and downs of adolescence. Around this time, romantic interest in
others may begin to show.
At
this age, she can also be more aware of her body. In part, this will be a
natural result of the changes it will undergo. But sometimes these fears can
lead to problems like eating disorders and body image issues.
Your
daughter may start trying to express her individuality by changing the way she
dresses, what she listens to, looks at or reads, or how she looks. Her friends
can create a friendly environment for her to try out new ideas.
However,
some girls at this age begin to experiment with more risky activities such as
drug addiction, smoking, sex, or self-harm. You should discuss the dangers of
this behavior with your daughter. If you haven’t had “The Talk” about sex yet,
maybe it’s time.
Checklist
During
your daughter's annual medical visit, the doctor should examine:
- Her height and weight
- Her physical development, including signs of puberty (you should feel free to be present for this part of the exam)
- Any signs of unusual curvature of the spine
- Her vision
- Her immunization records, making sure she’s current on vaccinations