Year 5 Life Skills

Growing Up — Puberty and Your Emotions

Puberty is a normal part of growing up. Learn what is happening in your body and brain — and how to take care of yourself along the way.

What is Puberty?

Puberty is the time when your body and brain change from a child's into an adult's. It happens to everyone — it is a completely normal part of growing up, and it has been happening to people for as long as humans have existed.

These changes are driven by hormones — chemical messengers that travel through your blood and tell your body and brain what to do. You cannot see hormones, but you can certainly feel their effects!

Everyone's timeline is different

Puberty can start at different times for different people — some earlier, some later. There is no single "right" time for it to begin. Starting earlier or later than your friends is completely normal. Everyone grows at their own pace.

Hormones

Chemical messengers made by glands in your body. During puberty they signal your body and brain to begin changing.

Puberty

The period of physical and emotional development when a child's body matures into an adult body. It is a process, not a single event.

Your Brain Changes Too

Puberty does not just change your body — it changes your brain in big ways too. This is one of the most important things to understand, because it explains a lot of how you might be feeling.

The Prefrontal Cortex

This is the part of your brain that makes decisions, plans ahead, and controls impulses. It is still developing — and it will not be fully mature until your mid-20s. This means decision-making can feel harder during puberty. That is not a fault; it is just how the brain works.

The Amygdala (Emotional Brain)

The amygdala is the part of your brain that processes emotions. During puberty it becomes more active, which means emotions can feel more intense than they used to — louder, bigger, and harder to ignore.

Why this matters: Things that did not bother you before might now feel overwhelming. Small things can suddenly feel like a very big deal. This is completely normal — it is your brain changing, not something wrong with you.

Emotional Changes You Might Notice

During puberty, many people notice changes in how they feel day to day. Here are some of the most common ones. If you recognise any of these — you are not alone.

🌞 Mood Swings

Feeling happy one moment, then sad or irritable the next — sometimes for no obvious reason. This is caused by hormones shifting, and it is temporary.

✨ Stronger Emotions

Joy feels better, sadness feels deeper, anger feels hotter. Emotions that used to feel small can now feel huge. This intensity is real — your feelings are valid.

💡 New Worries

You might start worrying more about how you look, what others think of you, who your friends are, or who you are as a person. These reflective thoughts are a normal part of growing up.

👀 Self-Consciousness

Feeling like everyone is watching or judging you. It can seem as if you are always "on stage." Almost everyone feels this way during puberty — even if they look confident on the outside.

🔒 Wanting More Privacy

Wanting your own space and time alone. This is completely normal and healthy — you are developing your own identity.

🗣 Feeling Misunderstood

Sometimes feeling like no one "gets" you — and pulling away slightly from family to spend more time with friends. This is a healthy and natural part of growing up.

Taking Care of Yourself During This Time

Your body and brain are doing a lot of work during puberty. The basics matter more than ever.

😴

Sleep

Your body needs 9–11 hours of sleep during puberty. This is not laziness — your brain is doing a huge amount of processing and growing overnight. Sleep deprivation makes emotions harder to manage.

🏃

Move

Physical activity is one of the best mood regulators available. Even a brisk 20-minute walk releases chemicals in your brain that improve how you feel. You do not need to be sporty — just move your body.

🗣

Talk

Talk to someone you trust — a parent, older sibling, school counsellor, or trusted teacher. Saying things out loud often makes them feel smaller and more manageable.

🌿

Be Kind to Yourself

You are going through a big change. You do not have to have it all figured out. It is OK to make mistakes and to feel uncertain — that is part of the process.

Self-Compassion — Talking to Yourself Kindly

When things feel hard, pay attention to how you talk to yourself inside your head. Many people are much harsher to themselves than they would ever be to a friend.

What is self-compassion?

Self-compassion means treating yourself with the same kindness and understanding you would offer a good friend who was struggling. It does not mean making excuses — it means being fair to yourself.

Research shows that people who practise self-compassion bounce back from hard times more quickly and feel better about themselves over time.

Try this practice

Next time you catch yourself being self-critical, pause and ask:

"What would I say to a good friend who was feeling exactly this way?"

Then say that to yourself instead.

Remember: Everyone goes through puberty. Everyone finds parts of it tricky. You are not alone — even if it feels that way sometimes.

Talking About It — Who Can You Go To?

It is completely OK — and smart! — to have questions about what is happening. Having questions does not mean something is wrong. It means you are paying attention.

👪 At home

A parent or carer, or an older sibling who has been through it before.

🎓 At school

Your school counsellor is specifically there for situations like this. You can ask to speak with them privately.

👨‍⚕️ A professional

Your doctor or GP can answer medical questions in a confidential setting.

📚 Books & trusted websites

There are books and websites written specifically for young people your age. A trusted adult can help you find good ones.

If talking at home feels hard: Your school has a counsellor specifically for situations like this. You can ask to see them without having to explain too much first — that is what they are there for.

Key Concepts Summary

● Puberty is the time when your body and brain change from a child's into an adult's. It happens to everyone, and there is no single "right" timeline.
● Hormones are chemical messengers that drive the changes of puberty in both your body and your brain.
● The emotional brain (amygdala) becomes more active during puberty, while the decision-making brain (prefrontal cortex) is still developing. This is why emotions can feel more intense.
● Mood swings, self-consciousness, and new worries are normal — they are part of brain development, not a sign something is wrong.
● Taking care of yourself with sleep, exercise, and talking to people you trust makes a real difference during this time.
● Self-compassion — treating yourself with the same kindness you would offer a friend — helps you get through the harder moments.

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