Smart Tips For Raising Girls

Boost their confidence

- Monika Agarwal

Girls usually start off life at full steam. They're the early talkers, the social butterflies, the A students. But somewhere between preschool and middle school, a confusing blend of new social pressures, greater expectations in the classroom, and mixed signals from society (“Do your best – but don’t draw too much attention to yourself,” “You can be anything you want to be – but looking pretty is your top priority”) can cause girls to fall behind academically or lose their spark.

Here's what you can do to build your daughter's confidence and resilience for the tricky years ahead:

Encourage assertiveness

Teach your daughter to express her needs to adults and stand her ground with her peers. If another child is being mean to her, encourage her to say, "I don't like the way you're talking to me."

Be specific in your compliments

When you tell your daughter how smart she is, it means much more if you use concrete examples. Tell her "You have a really good memory" or "Boy! You sure know your dinosaurs!"

Make your praise match reality