Building Confidence & Empowering Pre-Teen Girls

Adolescents are often seen as immature, irrational and overly sensitive. Very often their feelings are discounted and the concerns in their life are not taken seriously. The view many adults have about adolescents can often create barriers in society that make it difficult for them to obtain help when they need it. A few easy points to discuss with your pre-teen girl are below.  They are great topics to go over while snuggled in before bed, at lunch between the two of you, driving to and from school, or at any time you feel you can connect with your child.

Self Image:  How you see yourself and how you believe others see you.  What you think you look like.  What you think your personality is like. What you think others see you as. What status you think you have among your peers.

Self Esteem:  How you feel about yourself.  What are the emotions you have when you see yourself in the mirror or when others say things about you.  How you feel about the way you look, how you perform in school or sports and how you feel about your place among peers.

Peer Acceptance: A feeling that you belong to a certain group of individuals. Try not to identify with any one group. Participate and be active in many activities so you have opportunities to meet and make friends with others. Be accepting of others.

Do not feel that there is any one way to discuss these or other topics with your child. The approach and delivery of sensitive subjects is different for each parent or guardian. Opening the line of communication and keeping this link throughout adolescence is the ultimate goal to keeping our young girls confident and safe as they grow.