The title may suggest this episode is just for Girl Dads, but trust me, after recording this, I feel this is an episode that will help every Dad, even if it’s just supporting them to be a better partner.
Our tool in this episode is called Period Savvy Dads, and as you might guess, it is all about creating a home where periods are understood rather than treated as awkward or ignored, and understanding the menstrual cycle so you can better support your daughter (and partners and friends) with empathy, confidence and practical help.
To help us learn this tool, I am joined by Karin Lucia Gisler, a qualified counsellor, youth mentor and family support practitioner with more than 10 years of experience supporting young people and families. A mother of two teens herself, she combines professional expertise with lived experience to help families navigate communication, emotional challenges and major life transitions.
In this episode she shares:
- Why Dads' understanding of periods can strengthen their relationship with their daughters, especially as they go through puberty.
- A simple way to understand the different phases of the menstrual cycle and the changing energy and needs that come with them.
- How the way Dads talk about periods can shape their daughter’s own relationship with menstruation and their body.
- How to best support your daughter (and partner) during her period, and recognising that her needs can change from cycle to cycle.
- Why using correct anatomical language matters when talking to your kids about their bodies.
- Practical ways to prepare your daughter for her first period, including putting together a period kit for school or sport.
- Why your reaction to your daughter’s first period matters, and how to acknowledge it as an important moment without making it uncomfortable.
- Why boys should understand the menstrual cycle too, and how the whole family can support each other rather than treating periods as “women’s business.”
Key Quotes
“Never underestimate the power that a father figure has in the daughter's life.”
“The more open our conversations are around the menstrual cycle, around periods, the more likely she will have a positive experience as well.”
“Boys need to know about the menstrual cycle too, how that all works, about the different phases and how to be a supportive brother or later in life a supportive partner.”
Period Savvy Dads Resources
Exclusive free downloadable eBook: Support Your Teen/Tween to Cultivate Menstrual Positivity (for Dads)
Counselling and parenting support
Period Savvy Dads online course
Let's Talk: Sex Ed eBook for Teens & Parents
Youth and parent programs
More About Karin Lucia
Find out more via Karin Lucia’s website.
Or follow her on Facebook or Instagram.
Get Involved With The Podcast Online
Join our community of Dads on Facebook.
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Supporting Research
- Dhingra, R., Chauhan, K. S., & Kachroo, N. (2017). Parent adolescent communication related to pubertal issues. International Journal of Home Science, 3(3), 74–78.
- Kalman, M. (2003). Adolescent girls, single-parent fathers, and menarche. Holistic Nursing Practice, 17(1), 36–40.
- LeBlanc, S. S. (2024). Breaking the cycle: Memorable messages of “grin n' bear it” and silence in menarche narrative recall. Qualitative Research in Medicine & Healthcare, 8(2), Article 12239.
- Nurhaisa, S., Wahyuni, S., & Susanto, H. (2026). Effectiveness of health belief model-based reproductive health education on menarche preparedness: A systematic review. Lentera Perawat, 7(2), 314–326.
- Suttor, H., Yamayanti, K. P., Purni Astiti, N. L. E., Dewi, T., Ansariadi, A., Hennegan, J., & Chenhall, R. D. (2025). Tracking the changing body with care: a qualitative study on menstrual cycle tracking among adolescent girls in Bali, Indonesia. International Journal of Adolescence and Youth, 30(1), Article 2539444.
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