200 Ways to Raise a Girl's Self-Esteem

Book excerpt: This guide on boosting girls’ confidence “resembles Richard Carlson’s Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff . . . [Glennon’s] heartfelt, helpful advice rings clear” (Publishers Weekly). Studies show that young girls often develop faster than their male counterparts, grasping concepts such as math and sports just as easily—until they reach early adolescence. Then, girls quickly fall behind boys, victims to society’s confusing dictates of what being female means. 200 Ways to Raise a Girl’s Self-Esteem provides straightforward advice and helpful guidelines for parents and teachers who want to help girls build positive self-images and develop full, exuberant lives. Parenting expert Will Glennon guides you through how to raise a young girl’s self-esteem through carefully considered “boosters,” the key to helping girls hold their own in the world. This guide helps you understand the subtle difference between “boosters” and “busters.” For example, complimenting a young woman on her appearance may give her the idea that she is valued only for her looks, whereas complimenting her ability to complete a complicated homework assignment boosts her confidence in her intelligence. Find ways to impart a strong sense of self-worth to girls in everyday situations with 200 Ways to Raise a Girl’s Self-Esteem. Teach, advise, and create rituals that help girls navigate their transition into womanhood. 200 Ways to Raise a Girl’s Self-Esteem is a practical guide for raising healthy girls and provides exercises for parents and teachers. “Combines practical ideas with the encouragement to invest the reader’s compassion into themselves and their daughters, realigning their priorities and finding a place where these ideas can be applied in appropriate and meaningful ways.” —Foreword Reviews