Four Things Parents Should Tell Their Teenaged Daughters

Parents should be sure to discuss life issues with their teenaged daughters so that the girls are informed about sex, periods, self-esteem and giving back.

Today it is very important for parents to communicate with children, especially teenaged daughters. The days of giving partial advice to teens is now long gone as the internet provides both good and bad sources of information, so parents have to speak openly to their children. Parents should tell their teenaged girls about menstruation, sex, self-esteem and community service as this helps the girls to be stronger women.

What Teen Girls Should Know About Menstruation

Young ladies usually have their first period between the ages of 9 and 16 with the average age being 12 years old. Every woman menstruates differently as some have cramps, swollen glands, nausea, heavy or light bleeding and some have no additional symptoms at all. Parents should educate their daughters about the reasons for menstruation so that the young ladies can learn and understand their cycle. This will help the girls to be prepared and avoid forgetting their pads or tampons or worse, any embarrassing moments.

Tell Girls the Full Facts About Sex

In the past, parents in the Caribbean have said to their daughters, "don't go and talk to boys because you will get pregnant". Today, parents can no longer speak to children like that. Teenaged girls, most of whom would have already have had their first period, need to be told about sex so that they make the right choices. While sex is not a delicate topic to discuss, there are many references parents can reach for today. There are many books and there are articles such as WedMD's "Talking With Children About Sex – Topic Overview" that parents can peruse for information. Parents must note that it is not as simple as giving the child the book to read and hoping that understanding will come. Both mother and father must take time and make themselves available to answer questions. Contraceptives of course should be discussed - not as an encouragement to seek sex but a precaution.

Building a Teen Daughter's Self-Esteem

Self-esteem speaks to the core of a person's being with the value of self-worth and also with a focus of self-improvement and growth. Both boys and girls experience difficulties with their self-image but parents play a large role in easing the difficulties and ensuring that teenagers are well balanced and self-confident. Issues with physical appearance, involvement in sports or academic achievement can bring a young person down. Dyan Eybergen offers encouraging words in her Suite 101 article "The Development of Self-Esteem: Parenting Behaviours That Boost a Child's Self Worth" that "Children who receive support are strengthened; those who are empowered feel encouraged; children who know unconditional love learn to love themselves and when children know that their parents have faith in them, they are fulfilled as a human beings." Involvement in church activities, pageants, sports, writing songs and poetry are great activities for young ladies to develop and continuously improve their self-esteem

Community Service is Important for Girls

It is important for parents to instill in their young daughters the importance of volunteering and community service. Giving back to the community builds character, allows for networking and provides enhancement to a job application. Young ladies can take part in school or church based organizations or other groups such as Girl Guides, Pathfinders or other groups. Hopefully open communication between parents and teenaged girls will foster strong relationships between them. 

Young girls need to be nurtured so that they can be strong young women. When parents communicate with their teenaged daughters about sexual health, self-esteem and community service, the young women will be better equipped to deal with life.