Puberty is the physiological transition in a child when they start getting sexually mature. Puberty may also be called the period of growth at which the child becomes sexually capable of reproducing children. In simple words puberty in a boy is the time of transition of a boy to a man. The age of attaining puberty varies for each boy, but generally puberty begins between the ages of 9 and 16.

There is a growth spurt at the onset of puberty and your boy (son) undergoes significant physical changes during this phase. The sudden and rapidly changing physical appearance and other signs of secondary sexual characteristics (signs indicating sexual maturity) may be overwhelming and leave your son excited, confused, or scared. Boys often get acquainted with puberty through peers, schools, social media, and the information available on the internet. But not everything they hear, read, or see might be convincing enough to calm your son’s inquisitive mind. It is important that your son learns about the changes occurring with puberty before they happen and it is important that he learns about it from you and his doctor. 

In this health article we discuss the significant changes a boy’s body undergoes in the process of growing into a man.

Bodily changes (Growth Spurt) - Your son’s body begins to grow and it grows really fast. The evident changes include:

  • Sudden increase in height and weight
  • A toned body that begins to gain muscle
  • Refined skeletal structure - neck thickens, shoulders widen, facial bones and jawline get prominent
  • Cracking voice making your son sound like man
  • Appearance of body hair (chest and facial hair, chunks of hair in the armpit) that gradually thicken as your son progresses more into puberty; hands on arms legs become more noticeable
  • Enlargement of testes, widening and lengthening of penis, the initiation of erection and ejaculation experiences
  • Acne, sweating in the underarms, and body odor

Behavioral and emotional changes

  • Feeling overwhelmed or overly sensitive about the sudden bodily changes
  • Conflicting thoughts and feelings - Struggling to understand how to behave, feeling lost between how you were as a child and how would you like to be as an adult
  • Mood swings - Unstable behavior fluctuating between feeling depressed, shy or confident
  • Feeling of lost identity - In the process of changing from a boy to man your son may feel inclined to figure his identity and unique personality
  • Peer pressure and changing preferences - Your son starts to show changing preferences, likes and dislikes in terms of clothing, language, etc. and gets easily influenced by peers, friends and media or start imitating some adult personality they idealize 

A word of caution - Things you should know as a parent of a son at the threshold of puberty

As already mentioned the age of attaining puberty varies for each boy, but generally puberty begins between the ages of 9 and 16. However, there are certain warning signs that you should be aware of as a parent if you have a son who is around or nearing puberty. You may have to consult your healthcare experts if your son is:

  • Not showing signs of puberty by the age of 14
  • Having acne problem seem to be getting worse every passing day
  • Experiencing bodily pains associated with growth spurt
  • Always depressed or is having self harm or suicidal thoughts
  • Showing withdrawn or changed behaviors that seem concerning

Take home message - No two people are the same and that applies to each individual’s pubertal phase as well. But what remains common is every boy has to navigate through puberty to become a man. Equipping your boy with the knowledge of the physical and behavioral changes he will experience through puberty will help him a great deal to sail through the transition.

Disclaimer: The content (video/text) presented on this page should not be considered as a substitute for medical expertise. Please "DO NOT SELF-MEDICATE" and seek professional help regarding any health conditions or concerns. Practo will not be responsible for any act or omission arising from the interpretation of the content present on this page.