Teen years can be daunting for the most assured of children, but for girls, they can be especially trying. While there is no perfect guidebook, these insights may simplify the introduction to adolescence.
1. The Power of Saying No
As a parent, teaching your child about the power of saying no is important. It helps them develop mental health stability, improve self-care practices, and build self-esteem and confidence by setting boundaries.
During their transition into adulthood, learning to say no is a valuable skill that will serve them well. By teaching your child to say no, you are setting them up for success in managing their relationships and caring for their needs.
2. Physical Self-Care
Understanding skincare and physical fitness can significantly benefit your daughter’s overall health. A parent could provide an easy-to-follow skincare routine and encourage a healthy enjoyment of physical activity.
Teenagers regularly fall short of the recommended daily exercise, and with benefits like higher quality of sleep and support for the brain, understanding the importance of exercise could be a game-changer.
3. How to Express Feelings
Entering adolescence brings forth many emotions, many of which are new and confusing. Research shows that expressing emotions contributes to our overall emotional regulation, proving the importance of managing feelings.
As for how to express those feelings? Practice, and then practice again.
4. Positive Body Image
The American Psychological Association says that body image and self-esteem are intrinsically linked and that poor body image can affect all areas of life.
For a young female, there are many influences on how she may view her body. Social media is known as a cause, among other forms of media.
A positive body image and attitude may come from self-accepting of our strengths, as well as our limitations
5. The Importance of Mental Health
Nearly 20 percent of young Americans have a mental, emotional, developmental, or behavioral disorder, making mental health more important than ever before.
it is important to have open and genuine conversations about the topic.
Take the time to talk to your child about their feelings and listen without judgment. You can also model healthy habits for them to emulate, such as practicing self-care and setting boundaries.
6. Self-Compassion
Being young is an excellent time to make mistakes, but having compassion is a more difficult concept to grasp. Learning to treat themselves with grace and respect is vital for young people as they move into adulthood.
Introducing mindfulness and gaining perspective can serve as excellent tools for teaching young people the art of self-compassion.
7. Healthy Relationships
Healthy friendships also impact how a young person views romantic relationships, so defining what is beneficial from an early point of view is essential.
One study reveals that adolescents who engage in positive friendships tend to exhibit better stress management skills and achieve greater academic success. They may also display increased assertiveness and boast higher self-esteem. It’s incentive enough to talk to your child about the benefits of boundaries, respect, and kindness in any relationship.
8. Embracing Individual Expression
Teaching your daughter to be proud of her interests and personality is one of the fastest ways to a secure sense of self.
Research published by the National Library of Medicine explains that self-expression is an “important source of value and intrinsic motivation,” adding that it also assists in self-regulation and other motivated behavior.
9. How to Speak Up
Assertiveness is a valuable quality in the workplace, but what about in the years earlier? Learning to speak up can be daunting and unpleasant for a child.
Research reveals that assertive activity can lead to lower levels of anxiety and depression, higher self-esteem, and improved relationships.
To coach young people into speaking their minds more frequently, role play is known to boost confidence.
10. How to Process Feelings
Highly recommended by therapists around the world, emotional processing may be one of the best things an individual can do for their mental health.
Clinical psychologist Dr Alisa Crossfield encourages processing emotions through physical activities, like journalling, art, or music.
“The primary goal is to validate themselves through expression. Often, the act of expression can also be a release,” she explains.
11. Understanding Feminine Health
For a girl heading for womanhood, learning about the details of feminine health may seem horrifying. And yet, it is an essential step in bodily autonomy.
Though many speak about puberty, discussing topics such as sexual health and fertility is also essential.
An adolescent medicine physician, Dr May Lau, encourages parents to be comfortable with these types of conversations. “If you seem awkward or uncomfortable, preteens pick up on that sense and may not feel comfortable coming to you to ask questions again.”
12. Failure: It’s Expected
Some preteens can take failure harder than others, allowing it to affect their self-confidence and following performance. Whether it is academics, sports, or even home life, explaining to your daughter that failure is a normal part of everyday life is essential.
There are three main ways to deal with failure. acceptance, positive reframing, and humor.
While your daughter may not be ready to laugh about it, offering total acceptance and endeavoring to find the ‘silver lining’ can be beneficial ways to reshape the idea that failure is bad.
13. What is Embarrassing and What’s Not
Adolescence can often be a painfully embarrassing time, as reflected in many social media posts.
And while hormones are making the job challenging, preteens need to acknowledge that some things don’t need to be embarrassing.
Research shows that open, unembarrassed conversations about sex can lead to a more positive outlook on sexual health for young people.
So, for uncomfortable conversations, it’s best to approach them with an attitude of assurance.
