Getting your first period can be an anxious and embarrassing time for girls, especially if it happens at school. Dealing with periods in a school environment presents some unique challenges that girls have to navigate. In this article, we’ll explore how girls manage their periods at school and provide some tips to make it easier.
Do girls tell anyone when they get their first period at school?
Many girls do tell someone when they get their first period at school, but who they tell can vary:
– Friends – Girls often confide in close friends, especially if they experience their first period together. Friends can provide pads/tampons and moral support.
– School nurse – The school nurse is equipped to provide pads, pain relief, and a change of clothes if needed. They can help the girl feel more comfortable.
– Teacher – Some girls tell a favorite teacher who they trust, particularly a female teacher. Teachers can provide supplies and advice discretely.
– Parent – Girls may call or text a parent to tell them and ask them to bring supplies to school. Even if embarrassed, parents are generally supportive.
– No one – Some girls don’t tell anyone at school out of fear or embarrassment. This can lead to anxiety about leaking or visible stains.
What options do girls have for dealing with periods during classes?
There are several options girls can utilize to manage periods during classes:
– Pads – Pads are the most common option. Girls may carry pads in their backpack or purse and visit the bathroom to change them.
– Tampons – Some girls use tampons instead of pads, which can feel more discreet. Tampons still require occasional bathroom visits.
– Menstrual cups – Reusable menstrual cups can be worn for up to 12 hours, limiting bathroom trips. However, they have a learning curve.
– Period-proof underwear – Absorbent, leak-resistant underwear provides backup protection against leaks and stains.
– Pain relievers – Girls may take ibuprofen or other pain relievers discreetly during class for cramps.
– Heating pads – Portable heating pads or patches can provide relief from cramps during classes.
– Extra clothes – Keeping an extra change of clothes, especially pants/bottoms, can give peace of mind.
What facilities are available in school bathrooms?
School bathrooms can provide vital facilities for girls on their periods:
– Pads/tampons – Many schools provide pads and tampons for free in bathroom stalls and/or the nurse’s office.
– Private stalls – Bathroom stalls with doors give privacy for changing pads/tampons.
– Sinks – Sinks allow girls to wash blood off their hands discreetly.
– Toilet seat covers – Covers to go over toilet seats prevent contact with blood.
– Disposal bins – Bins provide discrete disposal options for used pads/tampons.
– Hand dryers/paper towels – These allow girls to dry their hands before returning to class.
– Full-length mirrors – Mirrors let girls check for stains on their clothing before leaving the bathroom.
– Chair/shelf – A folding chair or shelf gives girls a place to rest or temporarily place bags.
What options do girls have if they leak or stain at school?
Leaking and visible staining are common period worries for girls at school. Options to handle this include:
– School nurse – The nurse can provide sanitary products, pain relief, and a change of clothes if available.
– Extra clothes – Keeping a change of clothes at school allows girls to change discreetly if needed.
– Jackets/sweaters – Wearing layers gives the option of tying a sweater or jacket around the waist to cover stains.
– Bags – Carrying bags in front of them as they walk can hide stains until they can change.
– Bathroom sink – Running stained clothing under water in the sink can often remove or lessen blood stains.
– Club soda – Applying club soda directly to stains can help remove them, especially on fabric chairs.
– Skipping class – In extreme cases, girls may visit the nurse to skip the rest of a class to change clothes and reduce embarrassment.
How can schools support girls who are on their periods?
There are several supportive steps schools can take:
– Provide pads/tampons – Keeping them freely available normalizes periods and ensures access.
– Accommodate bathroom visits – Allow girls quick restroom visits without needing permission.
– Carry extra clothes – Keep some clean clothes at the nurse’s office for girls to change into.
– Offer privatechanging areas – Convert nurse’s rooms or offices into places to change.
– Allow bags in class – Let girls carry bags with supplies without restriction.
– Monitor bathroom facilities – Make sure stall doors lock and supplies are well-stocked.
– Educate girls/boys – Teach about periods to build empathy and understanding.
– Discreet support – Quietly provide supplies or allow class absences without drawing attention.
How can parents help prepare their daughters manage periods at school?
Some ways parents can help girls prepare include:
– Start the conversation early – Talking openly normalizes periods and builds confidence.
– Make a period kit – Help create a kit with pads, pain relief, and extra clothes.
– Practice at home – Allow them to change pads and tampons at home to build skills.
– Send supplies to school – Replenish supplies discreetly if the school doesn’t provide them.
– Share period-tracking apps – Apps can help girls predict and prepare for periods.
– Teach stain removal – Show how to wash out blood stains at home and school.
– Provide emergency cash – Money gives girls options to buy supplies if needed.
– Reassure them – Remind girls that periods are common and school staff will help.
– Offer support – Check in with empathetic texts or calls on their period days.
What is the best way for girls to dispose of pads and tampons at school?
The most hygienic and discreet disposal methods include:
– Bathroom disposal bins – Use bins specifically meant for feminine products, not toilets.
– Wrapping in TP – Wrap used products in toilet paper before putting in a bin.
– Sealed baggies – Carry a small zipper bag for used products until they can be binned.
– Take them home – When bins aren’t available, pack used products neatly to discard at home.
– Use the nurse’s bin – The nurse’s office likely has a discrete padded bin available.
Girls should not flush pads or tampons down toilets, as they can cause clogs. Used products should never be left openly in stalls or left for custodians to handle. Wrapping products and using designated bins helps maintain cleanliness and discretion.
Conclusion
Getting a period for the first time or managing monthly periods in a school environment presents unique challenges for girls. However, being prepared with the right products and practices can make the experience much smoother. Schools and parents also play an important role in providing facilities, education, and emotional support around this normal biological process. With the right assistance, girls can feel confident, comfortable, and able to focus on their education, even during their periods. Small acts of support from friends, teachers, nurses, and parents can provide a critical comfort cushion for girls navigating this new experience each month.