Global research shows that children are entering puberty earlier than ever before. For young people, this can be a confusing and overwhelming time, especially without the right guidance. Here in the UAE, The Talk has been created to help boys and girls make sense of these changes, supporting them to understand their bodies, embrace their emotions, and build lasting confidence.
Founded by educator Nadine Walters, The Talk offers puberty and menstrual health education programmes for UAE schools and communities. Session content is based on the UK curriculum, and designed to empower students in Years 5 to 8 with age-appropriate, culturally sensitive information, creating a safe space for them to learn and ask questions.
Nadine Walters, Founder of The Talk, said: “Working directly with children in schools, I see firsthand how confidence comes from understanding. We know that young people are experiencing these natural physical and emotional changes at a younger age for multiple reasons. Therefore, it’s vital that they get the information they need to support their physical and mental well-being.
“That said, these conversations can be difficult for some teachers to have, and children may be shy about discussing the topic with adults they see in school every day. We wanted to create content that is delivered by experienced educators who know how to build an open and engaging environment for conversations that matter.”
Session length and frequency can be adapted to meet each school’s needs with different themes, including an introduction to puberty; physical changes; understanding menstruation; emotional and social changes.
The team also offers in-school parent workshops and supports families at home, as well as through community partnerships.
In addition to sharing knowledge, The Talk offers curated period boxes that include a range of essentials and self-care products to help girls feel positive and prepared every month.
Through its evidence-based programmes and practical resources, The Talk is helping to break down stigma and give young people the tools they need to approach puberty with clarity, confidence and self-belief.
