How to Help My Daughter Handle School, Boyfriends & Friends
Teenage girls have their hands full with school, friends and boyfriends. It can be a difficult time, particularly when things go wrong. The best way to help your daughter handle her academic, social and romantic life is to keep the lines of communication open at all times. The more comfortable she feels confiding in you, the easier it will be to deal with any problems that arise.
Instructions
Talk to your daughter regularly about her studies. If you sense she is struggling in a particular class, ask her how you can help her improve. You may be able to help her with a school project or arrange for private tuition. Avoid getting angry with your daughter, even if you feel she is not trying hard at school. Explain the importance of studying, even for the subjects she does not excel at. Ask her what job or career she is interested in and remind her that she needs to work hard at school to achieve her goals. Help your daughter deal with rejection from boys, which is an unavoidable part of growing up for most girls. Teaching your daughter how to work through disappointment in a positive way will provide her with the skills she needs to have a successful romantic relationship later. Talk to your daughter about the situation, avoiding cliches like "there are plenty more fish in the sea." Focus on your daughter's attractive qualities to build up her self esteem and help her move on from her rejection. Explain that some men will find her attractive while some will not, and that it is important to concentrate on the people who like her and want to get to know her. Look for signs that your daughter is becoming withdrawn, depressed or lonely, which could be signs of bullying. If your daughter is being bullied at school, avoid intervening directly, which takes control away from your child. Talk to her about what is happening, encouraging her to open up to you and stressing that she is not to blame. Explain that the issues lie with the bullies themselves, who are picking on other people because they are insecure themselves. Encourage your daughter to pursue interests and activities she enjoys and form friendships with positive, kind peers who treat her well. If the bullying gets out of hand or turns into physical violence, you must step in by contacting the school or the parents of the bullies. Encourage your daughter to have an active social life, but not to the detriment of school. Let her arrange to spend time with her boyfriend or friends, provided she completes her school assignments first and maintains good grades. Make sure your daughter also has plenty of time to relax, eats a healthy diet and gets plenty of exercise -- for both her physical health and her mental health.