Raising kids is a tough job. As parents, we want to raise body-positive girls who know that beauty and health are about more than just their weight. We bookmark inspiring stories of girls like the teens behind the YouTube series Hyperlinked in hopes of sharing those role models with our daughters. We fill our shelves with diverse books like Strong Is the New Pretty to show examples of kickass girls and women who are living fearlessly. But in the age of social media, confidence for girls looks very different from when we were growing up. We chatted with parenting expert and educator Laurie Wolk, author of the new parenting-help book Girls Just Want to Have Likes, to get her best tips for building confidence in our next generation of women.
2. Show your daughters relatable role models. Choose books, movies, and TV shows with intelligent female protagonists — like these age-appropriate children’s books (from 0-12) that showcase a range of women who aren’t always the damsel in distress. “Show them the contributions made by women around the world, and make sure your girl knows that she can pursue any area of study or work that she wants,” encourages Wolk.
3. Model gender equality at home. Kids are very perceptive, and they watch everything we’re doing. “Make sure your girls see that you and your partner both share the chores, help with homework, and take on your fair share of the work that needs to be done around the home,” says Wolk. This type of modeling in your family will help them see that a couple is responsible for running a home together.
What’s your best tip for raising a confident daughter? Tweet us @BritandCo to let us know.