I have really enjoyed reading all the posts in this thread, and of course have no idea what bad stuff was deleted. I will chime in as both a Dad and Health and Physical Education teacher. The age of puberty for boys varies greatly and as the poll shows - it is an authentic "Bell curve." The "average" age for male puberty is 11 but can be as early as 5 and as late as 15 or 16 (rare). Genetics is the major factor. Ask most teachers and you will find that American kids in 6th grade are still children. Then summer comes and they go to seventh grade and the difference is very noticable - almost all are bigger. There is the usual one or two that still look like little kids, but most have grown a lot. Some girls hit puberty big time in sixth grade and all the kids notice it. In seventh grade most girls are bigger than most boys because almost all of the girls have hit puberty but most of the boys are just starting. In school it can be the toughest year for both kids and teachers - I have known many teachers who could not handle that age. (I have taught all grades K-12). Seventh graders have a very tough time as friends grow throughout the school year and by eighth grade one kid is six feet and the other is still a foot shorter (so now they do not play basketball together anymore). Few boys in seventh grade have any interest in girls. By eighth grade the boys are fresh and all they do is talk about the girls. So the period between ages 10-13 are the major hormonal growth times. My own boys bathed together as toddlers and as they aged they showered instead - alone. At one point the older son locked the bathroom door and that was it - instant privacy. He never said a word other than he wanted privacy. The younger one used to sit on the floor in his bedroom checking his groin looking for hair. One day he came running to tell me because he was excited that he found one; he was ten. As a teacher I can tell you from direct observation in locker rooms after class - American boys are mostly embarrassed to be naked in front of others. They do not like to shower in school (grades 7-9). By grade 10 most do not care anymore but there are still shy boys who will not change in front of others after class. In the USA our culture tends to be very conservative. Americans are a "hung up" society. We love our entertainment (television, movies, video games) to be action oriented and violent (car chases, explosions, lots of gunfights, etc.). Yet we cringe at sex and nudity. How many of you readers allow your kids to watch "action movies" but have never discussed sex with your kids? And why not? Probably because sex makes most Americans uncomfortable. But blowing people up in a TV show does not. Walmart will not even sell "Cosmopolitan" magazine in their stores unless the cover is blocked from view. But gun magazines are in full view. But have you ever been to Germany or Sweden? Every magazine has naked women on the front cover, and these are news magazines! Cultural differences are fascinating! I did teach in Europe for five years. The little kids (boys and girls) changed together in one locker room in grades 1-3. Starting in grade four they had separate changing rooms. Almost 100 percent showered after class through 12th grade (separate locker rooms of course, they are not THAT wild and crazy). But sex is not a big deal to them because it is talked about much more throughout the society - many less people are "hung up" on the issue. In the American education arena it is still very controversial about teaching sex education. Every school district makes its own rules. Whereas some are very open others believe parents alone should teach sex ed. Then, of course, we have the politically controversial issues of abortion to add to the topic. Another controversy is the distribution of condoms or other birth control items in schools. My own personal experience: I substituted in three school districts for several years and found that I was called to teach Health education in each one, and the topic was almost always sex ed. Even the teachers were uncomfortable (it is uncomfortable not for me, I approach it without passion or emotion, never using individual or personal experiences of myself or people in the room). I answer every question directly and fully, so kids used to love me as a sub. I thought it was a sad situation that so many educators were also "hung up." So to wrap up: nudity, nakedness, puberty, sex education - should not be a silent subject. Take a deep breath and break the mold - talk to your kids openly and teach them about their own bodies, how they will change over time, to have respect for themselves and others, to know their limits and to be responsible for their own behavior. Good luck all.
y'all are KILLING me! Is there any of the original spirit of Mothering Dot Commune left?!?! 
Follow Mothering