Got a daughter? Kaz Cooke, Author of Girl Stuff 8-12 years (and many other amazing life-stage books) shares her tips about how to guide your tween girl through body changes, periods as well as inappropriate comments from relatives. Throughout the episode, she emphasises the importance of normalising puberty, and that the experience and timing is different for all girls. And it's all normal. 

Kaz says: "Do not let anyone in the family comment on your child's body changes. Do not let brothers and sisters tease each other. You need to have a very strong hard rule. Often family members who feel like they have a right to comment of girls bodies - Uncles, Aunts and often grandparents. They'll say 'oh you've put on weight', or there's a judgement built into "Oh you've shot up". It's astonishing that people in extended families might make comments like 'Oh, you're growing out the front now'. "

About Kaz Cooke
Kaz is your friend for life, her books helping generations of girls and women with their health and life stages. She constantly updates her books which have become classics, reassuring and entertaining more than two generations of Australians.

She began her career as a cadet journalist at The Age newspaper, and soon lurched into other areas, producing her cartoon strip Hermoine the Modern Girl; and the first of many columns and books. She still writes things, and talks in public and on the radio. And on the phone.

Kaz lives in Melbourne and often works in her pyjamas (usually without leaving the house). Her hobbies include reading, sewing in a straight line and shouting at the television news.

Kaz recommends
In this episode, Kaz recommends the following documentary about body image:
Embrace is a social impact documentary by Taryn Brumfitt that explores the serious issue of body loathing, inspiring us to change the way we feel about ourselves and think about our bodies.

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