How do you teach your pre-teen daughter how to handle herself in tough situations with the opposite sex? How do you explain to your daughter when to be argumentative and when to stand down? The type of relationship you develop with your daughter is the answer. If there is an open line of communication, she'll come to you with different circumstances and scenarios. You'll be able to help her navigate each one individually if she trusts you and can rely on you to be honest. The connection between the two of you is key.
The school bus, co-ed sports, and neighborhoods, to name a few, can be a battlefield. Some parents think boys tease girls as a means of flirting with them, but if the comments are demeaning and belittling, our girls should know that's not okay. A lack of boundaries invites a lack of respect by others. Teaching young girls to be confident will deter boys from intimidating and disrespecting them. Boys tend to know who they can and cannot pick on. They'll never pick on a girl who will strike back, verbally or otherwise. The truth is, boys get just as scared and intimidated, but they're taught to be tough.
No reaction can sometimes be the best reaction. If a boy is relentless, teasing and ridiculing your tween, educate her on how to respond, whether it be verbally with the boy or telling someone who may be able to help with the situation. Bullies come in all shapes and sizes. Their reasons for bulling vary. The recipient of their bullying usually has something they want. Their jealousy may fuel their actions. Their bad behavior could also be triggered if they're personally experiencing something painful. Regardless, it's unacceptable. Teaching your daughter how to handle bullies will enable her to feel confident should such a situation occur. Afterwards, help her to examine the circumstances from a different view to better understand why it happened in the first place.
Teaching both girls and boys to be respectful at an early age is essential. The fact that bullies are still at the forefront of adolescence is troubling. Educating our kids to treat others as they would want to be treated promotes kindness, and will help our youth develop into healthy well-rounded adults.
If you enjoy my blogs, please consider purchasing Book 1 of my series, The Rebecca Chronicles. The topics in my blogs are a direct reflection of what I write in my books.
Comentarios