Jack and Diane

Puberty is the time in your life where your body develops physically into either young men or women. Puberty starts when the body produces extra amounts of chemicals called hormones. These hormones guide the changes that take place in your body. As well as causing physical changes these hormones also cause emotional changes to occur. Girls tend to begin puberty earlier than boys do, but there is no "right time" for puberty to start. Generally speaking, it is between 9 and 13 years old for girls and 10 and 14 years old for boys. As a result, some girls may be taller and act more mature than guys their own age. Guys and girls also experience some unique differences during puberty.