Supporting Your Daughter or Someone You Care About

Seeing a young person go through their first period is a meaningful and emotional moment for both of you. As a parent, carer, or mentor, the way you support them can influence how they feel about their body, their confidence, and self-care for years ahead.

This is about more than periods. It’s about helping someone you care about feel seen, safe, and supported.

Starting the Conversation

Talking about periods doesn’t need to be awkward. It’s a natural part of growing up, and your calm, open attitude will set the tone for how comfortable your young person feels.

Tips for starting the chat:

• Choose a relaxed time, such as when you’re driving together, watching TV, or shopping for essentials.

• Keep it simple and natural: “Have you heard much about periods at school?” or “Do you know what to expect when they start?”

• Answer questions honestly and with kindness.

• Remind them that every body is different, and that’s perfectly okay.

Remember, the goal isn’t just one big talk. It’s about starting an ongoing, safe conversation.

What Language Helps

The words you use matter. They shape how a young person understands and feels about their body.

Try using:

• “Period” or “menstruation” instead of euphemisms like “time of the month.”

• “Your body is doing something amazing” rather than “it’s something you have to deal with.”

• “Everyone’s experience is different” to validate individuality.

Use gender-inclusive language when appropriate. Not everyone who menstruates identifies as a girl, and not all girls menstruate. A simple phrase like “people who get periods” can make your words more inclusive and affirming.

What to Avoid

• Don’t use fear or shame: Avoid calling periods “gross,” “messy,” or something to hide.

• Don’t rush or dismiss emotions. If they feel nervous, that’s okay. Listen first, then offer reassurance.

• Don’t assume they know everything: Even if school has covered it, hearing support from a trusted adult is different.

Your calm, positive attitude can transform a moment of uncertainty into one of empowerment and pride.

Practical Support Matters Too

Providing period products, explaining how they’re used, and preparing in advance helps young people feel capable and confident.

You can:

• Create or give a First Period Kit with pads, period underwear, wipes, and a comforting note.

• Keep spare products in school bags, bathrooms, and cars.

• Show how to track a cycle or spot signs a period might be starting.

• Normalize small acts of self-care. Warm baths, rest, or chocolate are all valid comforts.

At New Moon, our curated kits are made for this moment. They are practical, nurturing, and ready for real life. With three generations of experience behind them, these kits help families begin these conversations with care and confidence.

Emotional Support: Being Their Safe Place

For some young people, getting a period can bring many emotions, like pride, confusion, embarrassment, or even fear. Your role is to offer reassurance, not pressure.

• Validate their feelings: “It’s okay to feel unsure; lots of people do at first.”

• Encourage open dialogue: “You can always talk to me, no matter what.”

• Celebrate growth: Acknowledge this new stage as a positive step, not a burden.

• Watch for changes in mood or anxiety, and gently check in.

The goal is to create a sense of safety, not just for the first period, but for every conversation that comes after.

If You’re Unsure Where to Start

It’s okay if you didn’t have these conversations growing up. You can still create a new story, one filled

with openness, understanding, and pride in the body’s natural rhythms.

Try:

• Reading a resource together (like our Understanding Periods guide).

• Visiting the New Moon Learn section as a team to explore questions.

• Share stories from your own experience, or talk about how you learned what you know now.

Your willingness to learn together sends a powerful message: talking about periods is normal, healthy, and human.

Final Thoughts

Supporting your daughter, or any young person you care about, through their menstrual journey is about much more than products or information. It’s about building connection, confidence, and compassion.

When young people see you are calm and open, they learn their bodies are nothing to hide. Their bodies are something to celebrate.

At New Moon, we’re here to help you every step of the way. We offer practical tools, gentle guidance, and a community that believes in breaking stigma with love and knowledge.