You know, I have to tell you, as a parent, something I think about a lot is how to have real

authentic conversations with my three teenage daughters. It can be hard sometimes. I realize

that things are different for their generation. They have smartphones and screens and influencers.

There is news that is constantly blaring everywhere. It's a different time, and a lot has changed right

down to our biology. Take, for instance, puberty. It's one of the most awkward and yet

important stages of growing up. But even that has changed. The average start of puberty in the

United States now begins at eight years old for girls and nine for boys.

Some kids are going through puberty even earlier than that.

It also lasts much longer than it did before.

For some people, puberty can last for up to a decade.

Just think about that. All of this might come as a

surprise to you. People know a lot about the puberty they went through, but it is not the same now.

That's Dr. Kara Natterson. She's a pediatrician and she's a parent. She's author of the New York Times best-selling series for girls called The Care and Keeping of You.

She also has a sequel for boys called Guy Stuff.

She's an expert on puberty, so I decided to sit down to talk to her and try and learn.

Why are kids going through puberty earlier?

And is that early puberty really the new norm?

I think most importantly for me as a dad of three teenage girls,

what do parents need to know about how to help their children navigate it?

I'm Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN's chief medical correspondent. Thank you. about how to help their children navigate it.

I'm Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN's chief medical correspondent,

and this is chasing life.

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