Can you remember the year’s right before your teens? Do you feel like you should have known something before you entered your teenage years? I have done this age twice before but it is different every time. I personally found this pre teen stage the hardest. This is when we had the most slamming doors and stomping around.
I so wished that someone would have taught me a few life tips and teachings before I turned 13.
Pre-teenage is a really very crucial time for kids, especially girls. Being innocent to facing the wild world is indeed scary and this is why we need to prepare our daughters for these challenges.
From gender decimation to body positivity, we indeed have a lot to teach our daughters before they embark on their teenage journey. These are some of the golden years where your daughter will know herself and the world. It’s always advisable to sit down with your daughter and teach her some wise life lessons before the world teaches her in the wrong way.
I want to raise strong women and since my girls were little they have heard me talking about feminism and what it means to me. As a sociology teacher I have regularly talked about equality and taught my children that this world is not fair.
Here are some important lessons to teach your girl before she turns 13:
1. All bodies are valued
It’s so important to let your daughter feel comfortable in her own skin. Being a parent, it becomes your responsibility to give her the freedom to accept herself the way she is. Make it clear to her that skinny isn’t beautiful or being fat isn’t ugly unless she is healthy.
Her body type will never define her and it’s okay to not follow the trends. Let her develop a positive relationship with her body before the world tells her she isn’t good enough.
2. Respect and express her feelings
Let them express their emotions and feelings freely. Most of the time we devalue a girl’s emotions and tag her being super sensitive.
This often leads to suppression of emotions which will have a huge effect on their mental health. Instead of trying to change her emotions or challenging them, try to comprehend and understand the reason behind it. When you will respect her emotions, she will learn the same.
3. Develop self-compassion
Being kind to ourselves is something that we adults struggle with the most. Teach your girl to be compassionate and kind to herself. This society will demand her to be people pleaser and sacrifice her own wishes and identity for someone else. Let this not happen with your darling. Make her understand that even in failures or setbacks, she needs to stop beating herself and be kind. Failures are a part of our lives and as a human, we are bound to make mistakes.
4. Stop silencing herself
The noise of the world may get louder but teach your girl to honor her voice and to never let it die in the web of silence.
The world will want her to be quiet and obey everything told, teach her to have her own opinion, and know when to raise her voice. The world is terrified of the woman who knows how not to silence herself. By letting in her views inside the house without suppressing or making fun of, you invite her to present her opinions without being afraid of judgments.
5. Teach her to lead
The future is females and this is the very age when you need to teach your girl how to be a leader.
Let her know how to accept the opinions of others without being biased at them. Leadership skills are super important and we fail at teaching our girls how to lead because we don’t find it necessary.
Our kids learn more by example and action rather than teachings and preachings. Make sure that you’re getting the right example for your daughter.
These skills aren’t easy to master but take it one day at a time and see how you raise a wonderful human.
Do drop your views on how you raise your girl child in the comments below.
