Working Parents, Stay-at-Home Parents, Caretakers and Young Daughters Welcome 1st Periods Sooner than Expected, Signaling the Need to Be Prepared in a New Way for Back-to-School

SEATTLE, Aug. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- With the news from Pediatrics about puberty coming as early as seven years of age for girls around the world, Kathy Pickus -- co-founder Dot Girl Products (http://www.dotgirlproducts.com) -- says parents and their daughters should take a lesson from the Boy Scouts when it comes to back-to-school shopping: Be prepared. Pickus recommends that parents stock backpacks with one additional item so girls are not caught with their pants down, not knowing what to do when they see red.

"Let's help our girls respond to this milestone with confidence and proper supplies ready versus experiencing awkward moments and disruption of their school days or their parents' demanding work schedules to rush to the store to buy feminine hygiene products," Pickus suggests. "Parents and daughters will enjoy peace of mind knowing that girls have the supplies they need, just in case their periods start at school.

The Dot Girl First Period Kit(R) offers everything a girl needs for her first period, including The Dot Girl Period Answer Book, packed with frequently asked questions and answers, five feminine pads, five disposal bags, one reusable heating pad, and two hand wipes. Everything comes fashionably packaged in a discreet carrying case. Purchases can be made from http://www.dotgirlproducts.com for $22.99 each with quantity discounts for those who buy seven or more kits. Schools and non-profit organizations enjoy preferred pricing upon proof of non-profit status.

In an August 9, 2010 report from Pediatrics, 15% of 1,239 girls studied showed the beginnings of breast development at age 7. A third of children are overweight, and the early puberty trend could be related to the obesity epidemic, says Marcia Herman-Giddens of the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. While First Lady Michelle Obama presses on to campaign against childhood obesity, the effort is coming late for many girls who find themselves heavy enough for their bodies to signal the early start of menstruation.

Tips to Guide Tweens and Teens:

Pickus says:

• Don't leave it up to the schools and the Internet to deliver the information. Make time to connect with your daughter about this milestone, make sure she understands the information, and feels comfortable asking questions.
• Share your own memories so your daughter realizes she is not alone in this experience.
• Schedule a field trip with friends and their moms to the local drugstore to explore the feminine hygiene aisle. Today, these products are displayed alongside shampoo and other personal care essentials. A trip like this reinforces that these products are a normal part of life.
• Keep the lines of communication open and start early. Being honest with your daughter when she is in her early years will lay the foundation for important conversations to take shape as she grows older and has more challenging questions and issues on her mind.

Pickus and her sister Terri Goodwin experienced awkward introductions to puberty. They created the Dot Girl First Period Kit(R) to help parents address the topic with their children and pave the way for more graceful introductions to young womanhood. Thanks to favorable reviews in national and regional media, The Dot Girl First Period Kit(R) has grown from a simple idea to one that is earning praise and awards, including the Mom's Choice Gold Award.

Dot Girl Products Inc.

Started in 2006 by Kathy Pickus and Terri Goodwin, Dot Girl Products has welcomed favorable reviews and media attention for The Dot Girl First Period Kit(R) from CNN, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, the Toronto Globe and Main, and a host of regional parenting magazines and mommy blogs worldwide. The company distributes free "What's Normal?" bookmarks to schools and non-profit organizations and welcomes requests to expand distribution about this important and timely information. Kathy Pickus is available for media interviews and welcomes requests for product reviews from bloggers and journalists who write about issues facing parents and their daughters. Learn more and purchase products to serve teen and tween girls anticipating their first period at http://www.dotgirlproducts.com.

Contact: Nancy S. Juetten, [email protected], 425-641-5214

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SOURCE Dot Girl Products Inc.