How to Raise a Girl to Become a Confident Woman

The phrase drama queen is not an overstatement when it comes to girls and their overall design. On the other hand, drama queen is not used in a negative manner in this Hub. It is used as a capsule of their feminine characteristics. Girls have a tendency to internalize and over analyze situations. They tend to seek approval from outside forces rather than accept themselves for who they are. That is the nature of the gender group. Not putting all girls in the same box, some girls manage their circumstances better than others and some girls have adults in their lives who teach them how to manage the drama or you might say the emotions that accompany the female as a gender group.

Girls in our Western society are bombarded by words and visions from media that say you are not perfect and the imperfection needs to be corrected. The toys they play with and specifically the dolls they play with are designed to imitate fashion figures with perfect bodies. Those images subconsciously send a message that there is a need to repair or replace some part of your being so the world will see you as beautiful and perfect.

Studies on girls from toddler age until age 9 show they have a great sense of being. They are happy and confident. Their self esteem is high and their self confidence are in tact.They enjoy life as it comes and there is nothing that can stop them . Some where between the ages 10 and throughout teen years, some lose that self confidence and boldness towards life. Many girls become timid and lack self confidence. Their confident body language and self esteem falters considerably. Why?

Many organizations are exclusively dedicated to building and maintaining confidence in girls. They help prepare girls to be better able to handle the competitive challenges that lie ahead of them. The first level towards developing the full potential of the girl into a confident woman should be but is not always the case, the parental authorities. And then comes the organizations that focus on developing a self confident person.

Amazon has a great selection of books on raising confident girls. Check out the list below or go on line and browse their selection of books.

The best time to start building a girl's self esteem and self confidence is the moment she is born. The parents' decision to develop the girl's belief in herself is important. I believe that actually happens but somewhere in the process of raising the girl, the motivation and encouragement lessens or is taken for granted.

When the child enters societal environments with peers in kindergarten or with babysitters or within the family unit, she needs positive encouragement to face the challenges that will come her way. It is important she grows up in a environment where role models teach her how to respect herself, and expect others to respect her as well. These are elements of building the strong woman of tomorrow .

She needs to feel she can do anything she sets her mind to doing. Giving the girl challenges that show her she can complete a task and feel the victory of success are all bits and pieces that say you have value. And you have what it takes.

When the girl becomes confident and self assured, continue to nurture her self image. Even when she believes she knows all the answers, there is a correct way and a wrong way to remind her that parents have a lifetime of wisdom they wish to share with her. Attacking the issues rather than the individual keeps her self esteem in tact while maintaining the boundaries of parenthood.

Girls also have a tendency to try and take charge of the situation and that includes parents. Parents may continue to encourage the self confidence the girl displays. But parents must draw the line and make it known to their girls that boundaries are made for a reason. Parents can not give in to the pressures that will be placed on them by daughters. The parents are the guiding light that helps girls keep focused. Take for example the way a young girl decides to dress. Setting a limit on the fashion mode the girl dabbles in will help her make wiser decisions in the future. She will learn what type of dress is appropriate for specific events and which are not.

Making girls aware of the social groups she selects will either enhance her future or cost her dearly. Parents have a responsibility to help their daughters select friends who enhance who she is rather than selecting friends who compromise all that she believes in. Selecting friends to be liked by them when all they believe in is contrary to her beliefs shows a lack of self confidence and low self confidence.

A few years back, I was the leader of a group of girls. There were about 14 girls in the group.The girls ranged in age from 9 years old to about 16 years old. I saw a pattern with the girls. Their parents for the most part felt the girls could take care of themselves. Their parents provided a roof over their heads and food to eat. Other than that the girls were left to their own devices to raise themselves. A few of the girls in the group had supportive parents but the majority of the girls were left to learn life on their own. It was amazing to see, the girls with the parental support were the stronger personalities in the group. The others tended to follow the girls with the stronger personality.

The girls with the stronger personalities displayed a higher level of confidence in themselves. Their self esteem was strong and they were willing to take on leadership responsibilities. Girls with positive self esteem and confidence have a greater chance at becoming well rounded women. Encourage some of the following self esteem building techniques listed below with your daughters.

• Having self confidence and self esteem influences all phases of the girls life. An example is when girls begin dating. Being able to deliver in words and body language how a boyfriend is permitted to treat the girl sets the tone of the relationship. The boys will respect girls who mean what they say and do not compromise their position to remain with the boy in spite of his behavior.

• Parents may enhance their teen daughters' self confidence by actively presenting situations and talks which allow the girls to pull from within their person, the strength to stand up for themselves and become the women they were meant to be.

• Encourage girls to express themselves and their point of view while not trying to say the things they believe others want them to say.

• Encourage girls to see life from outside of themselves. Become a volunteer and participate in activities which require their active participation and input.
• Give daughters an opportunity to make real life decisions for themselves and discuss the lessons learned from the experience.
• Arrange situations in which the girls must reach certain levels of achievement. They then learn what it feels like to experience success and complete the the task.
• Allow older girls to occasionally attend adult events and learn how to enter act with adults as peers.

Confident women attract men who find them very appealing. Amazon has a selection of books on confident women. Some of the books are listed below. Review them or go on line and browse their selection of books.

What techniques have you used to develop your daughter's self esteem.  I'd like to write another Hub about developing confident girls who become strong and confident women. Please leave your response in the comment box below.