Never shut her out or refuse to talk about a subject. Try to always be honest and keep the lines of communication open. Even if she pushes you away at first—keep trying but give her some space if she asks for it. Go for something straightforward like, “I’m here if you need to talk, okay? It doesn’t matter what you want to talk about. ”
Learn to listen twice as much as you talk. Don’t interrupt—hear her entire message before responding. Then, summarize what she said to be sure you understand correctly. Say something along the lines of “It sounds like you’re saying…”
If she’s in the band, attend recitals or sit in on some of her practice sessions. If she likes soccer, volunteer to help coach the team or make sure to attend every game. Getting involved also means getting familiar with her friends, so invite them over for a barbecue or game night.
For example, if your teen daughter hasn’t given you any reason to distrust her, grant her permission to go to the movies with friends. You also shouldn’t invade her personal privacy, no matter how tempting it may be. Avoid listening in on phone calls, reading her diary, or searching her room. If you’re caught, you might lose her trust forever.
You might say something like, “Honey, I really want you to feel comfortable talking to me about your body and your period. If you don’t, you can reach out to Aunt Pam or Aunt Liz anytime, okay?” Help your daughter prepare for menstruation by checking out online resources and videos as well as talking to female friends or family about these subjects. KidsHealth. org is a great resource to learn about puberty and menstruation. You can also set up an appointment with your daughter’s pediatrician to discuss puberty. [3] X Research source For a healthy transition into puberty, be sure your daughter is eating a balanced diet, getting regular exercise, and sleeping around eight or nine hours each night.
You might say something like, “Honey, I really want you to feel comfortable talking to me about your body and your period. If you don’t, you can reach out to Aunt Pam or Aunt Liz anytime, okay?” Help your daughter prepare for menstruation by checking out online resources and videos as well as talking to female friends or family about these subjects. KidsHealth. org is a great resource to learn about puberty and menstruation. You can also set up an appointment with your daughter’s pediatrician to discuss puberty. [3] X Research source For a healthy transition into puberty, be sure your daughter is eating a balanced diet, getting regular exercise, and sleeping around eight or nine hours each night.
Expose your daughter to positive female role models, in person and in the media. Local and national organizations, such as Girl Scouts or Girls, Inc. , can also help her build a positive body image. [4] X Research source Celebrate strengths unrelated to her appearance by praising her for getting good grades, being a great friend, or having the courage to stand up to a bully.
Educate your daughter on the warning signs of stress overload, such as unexplained physical pains, a desire to withdraw from friends, and changes in eating and sleeping habits. Then, help her learn how to manage stress in different areas of life. [6] X Trustworthy Source American Psychological Association Leading scientific and professional organization of licensed psychologists Go to source For example, if she participates in various extracurricular activities and her grades start to slip, she may need to give up an activity to get more time to study. You can help her with homework or you can get her a tutor.
If her mother is still in the picture, you can ask her to provide backup on certain discussions or questions, also. If her mother has passed away, you might want to reach out to members of her mother’s family. This will help the girl stay close to that side of the family, and the mother’s family might treat her similar to the way her mother would have.
Ask around your community or get recommendations from relatives or other parents to find quality child care.
If you don’t have the time to meet with an in-person group, you might also find support groups for single parents online.
You can attend therapy alone, or you can go with your daughter.
For instance, ensure that typical activities like bedtime and mealtimes are about the same each day.
Base your rules on your daughter’s age and maturity level. For example, if you have a younger child, you might focus on behavior in the house and schoolwork. Once she is older, you might include chores and certain privileges (like a curfew) in the rules. Setting a standard for expectations and consequences will serve as a foundation in teaching your daughter how to set boundaries as she gets older. [11] X Research source
From an early age, you might have your daughter clean her place at the dinner table and put away toys after playtime. As she gets older, divvy up other duties that help keep the household running, like feeding a pet, washing dishes, or sweeping.
Are you being too easy on her because she’s in a single-parent household? Question yourself when you’re doling out consequences or assigning chores.
