Let's talk puberty: Poe Center has workshop for girls, parents

Puberty can be a difficult conversation. The Poe Center for Health Education is hoping to make it a little easier by offering both in-person and virtual sessions exploring the topic.

Girl Talk 2, a sequel to the popular Girl Talk 1 sessions held over the summer, will be held on Dec. 4 from 9-11 a.m. Tickets are $25 per family.

Girl Talk is designed for middle school aged girls (grades 6th-8th) and their caregivers. Here's a description from the Poe Center:

This interactive, two-hour workshop discusses the growth and development girls experience during puberty, the structure and function of the male and female reproductive systems, the menstrual cycle, fertilization, and conception. Internet safety, peer pressure, abstinence, and sexually transmitted diseases are also introduced. The program has been designed with activities that facilitate and encourage open parent-child communication.

There is also a Guy Talk series for boys. There aren't any sessions currently offered. Keep an eye on the Poe Center's calendar or sign up for their newsletter to find out when that class will be offered.

Parents with children who are currently dating, might want to check out the Poe Center's Healthy Relationships 101 session being offered on Nov. 30 from 4 to 5 p.m. The fee to attend is $20 per person. The course is designed for 8th to 12th graders and will be held virtually.

Join the Poe Center for Healthy Relationships 101, a program that explores the facets of what makes a healthy relationship. Setting and communicating personal boundaries, identifying warning signs of unhealthy relationships, and identifying societal influences that impact relationships are discussed through engaging activities, multi-media, and thoughtful reflection.

Head over to Poe Center's website for registration information. The Poe Center is near downtown Raleigh.