NEW YORK— Doctors are observing a trend of children entering puberty approximately two years earlier than in previous generations, while remaining emotionally five years younger, according to experts. Dr. Sheryl Ziegler, a clinical psychologist and author of “The Crucial Years,” highlighted the challenges faced by children aged six to 12, noting that stress is a significant trigger for the earlier onset of puberty.

Factors contributing to this trend include obesity, stress levels, toxins, hormones in food, and race, which is also linked to socioeconomic status. Dr. Ziegler emphasized that these issues often stem from stress and a lack of resources and abilities to help children cope.

“Those are the factors that appear to be just increasing in intensity and therefore triggering these children to go through earlier puberty, which we now know really starts in the brain, starts with that moodiness and dysregulation that we hear parents talking about all the time,” said Dr. Ziegler.

Dr. Ziegler advised parents to begin discussions about puberty with their children earlier and to ensure these conversations are age-appropriate.