How new humans are made
All living things make young of their own kind. Humans do this too, through reproduction. This is how families grow and how new babies are born. Reproduction is one of the important things that all living things can do.
Key idea
A baby begins when a sperm from the father joins with an egg from the mother. This joining is called fertilisation.
Growing up: puberty
As children grow into adults, their bodies change. This time of change is called puberty. Boys may grow taller, and their voices become deeper. Girls also grow and their bodies change. These changes prepare the body to one day become a parent.
A baby grows
After fertilisation, the tiny baby grows inside the mother's womb (also called the uterus). It stays safe and warm there for about nine months, getting food and oxygen from the mother, before it is born. After birth, the baby grows slowly into a child, then into an adult, and one day may have children too.
Remember
- Sperm comes from the father; the egg comes from the mother.
- A baby grows in the womb for about nine months.
- Puberty is a normal and healthy part of growing up.