puberty + adolescence education for youth & the grown-ups who raise them
Evidence-based. Family-Centered. Arts-infused.
Hi! I’m Bella. I’m so glad you’re here.
As an adolescent health expert, certified puberty educator, and with five years of experience teaching middle schoolers and their families, I’ve witnessed the transformative power of de-mystifying puberty and adolescence, both for youth and for their families.
Puberty has traditionally been a season of disconnection, turbulence, shame, and confusion. But it doesn’t have to be.
Body Basics with Bella helps families transform puberty from a season of turbulence to an opportunity for connection.
Youth deserve to learn about their growing and changing body and mind - particularly in a space that invests in their confidence, creativity, and connection with peers. Puberty education empowers youth to feel more confident in their body, take control of how they care for themselves, and develop a stronger relationship with who they are.
Body Basics with Bella emphasizes that:
Adolescence is a powerful turning point.
Families are essential partners.
Young people are already brilliant.
Body changes don’t have to be confusing or scary.
Emotions can be a source of great strength and power.
The bottom line: When youth are taught how to care and advocate for their physical, emotional, and social selves, they emerge into the world knowing their value and their worth.
So let’s get started.
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Body Basics with Bella empowers youth to emerge into their adolescence with confidence, empathy, and strength, all while nourishing a stronger relationship with the trusted adults in their lives.
My Teaching Approach
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Family-Centered
A child’s first health educator is their parent, and they are essential partners in each of our offerings. All families are fully informed prior to the first class and are equipped with the skills, guidance, and resources they need to continue Body Basics conversations at home.
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Developmentally-Aligned
We’re meeting adolescents not just where they are, but when they are. Our programs are separated by grade level to provide youth with just the right amount of information that they need to thrive. By continuing conversations over time, families can deepen trust with youth as they grow.
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Evidence-Based
I stay up to date with the latest evidence so you don’t have to. Because adolescence is a time of immense misinformation - which often creates shame in young adulthood - we combine emerging research, pedagogy, parental wisdom, and my 5+ years teaching experience to correct misinformation, build confidence, and affirm youth.
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Values-Neutral
Values-neutral education allows students to explore and develop their own values in partnership with their families. We honor each family’s values and encourage their integration with Body Basics through conversations at home. This ensures each family can participate in Body Basics alongside the important values that guide their lives.
Body Basics Grade 5
Creating Positive Impressions of Changing Bodies
Body Basics Grade 5 provides the information and support youth need to understand the physical, emotional, and social changes associated with puberty. In a fun, supportive, and open environment, students connect with each other while sharing their thoughts, feelings, and experiences together. This type of honest sharing normalizes puberty so youth know that they are not alone as they are changing.
Consists of 6-12 students
Open to current or rising 5th graders* in Hattiesburg, MS
Two 6-class semesters, 1.5 hours each, once a week
Includes a mandatory parent meeting, 1 class booklet, & 1 Time Together journal
*Body Basics Grade 5 covers female anatomy ONLY, as boys hit puberty ~2 years after girls. In order to remain developmentally-aligned, boys are encouraged to enroll in Body Basics beginning in Grade 6.
Semester One: Body Basics CORE
Class 1: Welcoming Adolescence
Class 2: Our Changing Bodies
Class 3: Bras & Breast Development
Class 4: The Menstrual Cycle
Class 5: Managing a Period
Class 6: Caring for Changing Bodies
Semester Two: Body Basics LIFE SKILLS
Class 1: Body Confidence & Self-Esteem
Class 2: Brain Changes & Big Emotions
Class 3: Ingredients for Strong Friendships
Class 4: Healthy Communication & Conflict Resolution
Class 5: Social Media, Screen Time, & the Internet
Class 6: Becoming You
Now Enrolling: Grades 5 + 6
Body Basics Grade 6
Cultivating Body Awareness + Confidence
Body Basics Grade 6 brings awareness to the importance and value of healthy physical body care and care, and how self-esteem affects how youth can feel about their bodies. We examine the ways media and society present messages that can challenge body confidence and learn skills and techniques to boost and protect body confidence and self-image. This program includes revisiting all the changes that can come with puberty.
Small Class Sizes: 6-12 students
Open to current or rising 6th graders* in Hattiesburg, MS
Two 6-class semesters, 1.5 hours each, once a week
Includes a mandatory parent meeting, 1 class booklet, & 1 Time Together journal
*Body Basics Grade 6 covers both male and female anatomy, seeing as learning about different anatomies is an important developmental milestone. We host both co-ed and same-sex groups, grouping youth based on family preferences.
Semester One: Body Basics CORE
Class 1: Becoming Adolescents
Class 2: Every Body Is Different
Class 3: Every Body Changes
Class 4: Pimples, Hair, & Body Care
Class 5: Managing Menstruation
Class 6: Body Image & Self-Esteem
Semester Two: Body Basics LIFE SKILLS
Class 1: Amygdala At Work!
Class 2: Feel, Think, Do: How Emotions Affect Our Decisions
Class 3: Building Healthy Friendships
Class 4: Attraction & Crush Etiquette
Class 5: Personal Boundaries & Consent
Class 6: Building Healthy Habits Online
“I am so grateful for your effort, your talent, and your patience in teaching my son and the other students. You got them all involved in the subject. My son will miss you terribly because he loved learning with you. Thank you for everything."
— Body Basics Mom, 2025
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