We have created the 4Girls.gov site to help adolescent girls (ages 10-16)
learn more about some of the unique health issues and social situations they
will encounter in the upcoming years. The Parent/Caregiver section provides
resources and links to extremely helpful information for you, as a
parent/caregiver, to be prepared to deal with some of the issues that face
adolescent girls. We have organized the resources and links by the topics
addressed in the 4Girls.gov site:
Putting It All Together, which discusses the importance of
self-esteem, dealing with relationships with friends and family, how to stay
safe and protect yourself, and having balance in life.
In addition, when a girl leaves our site and clicks on one of the other links
we provide as a resource, she will be notified that she is leaving a federal
site. The Department of Health and Human Services takes no responsibility for,
and exercises no control over, the organizations, views, accuracy, copyright or
trademark compliance or legality of the material contained on this server.
However, we have carefully chosen the links we provide, and at the time we last
reviewed them, they were age appropriate.
How you can help the young woman in your life
Adolescence is an exciting time of development and discovery, but also can be
filled with anxiety and struggle. Fortunately, your daughter has you! Parents
really matter to teens, even if teens sometimes don't act like it. They need
your love, guidance, and support every day to help them develop into confident,
healthy, happy young women.
You can help your daughter through all of the health and developmental issues
discussed in this section by trying to have a strong relationship with her that
includes trust, honesty, open lines of communication, and setting limits. Spend
quality time together every week. Do special activities. Be a good role model in
everything, from the way you eat, exercise, and handle stress, to how you avoid
abusing cigarettes and alcohol. If you have balance in your life, your daughter
will see that it is possible to handle the many different responsibilities we
all have. Act the way you would want her to act. You are her best teacher. Teach
her good values and a sense of responsibility, and then trust her to make
educated, responsible decisions. You need to provide her with structure and
rules. Reasonable rules and the consequences of breaking them, such as curfews,
can prevent girls from being in uncomfortable situations with peer pressure they
can't handle.
It's natural for a teen to want to experiment and, when she's angry with you,
she may rebel by making poor choices. Turn her mistakes into learning
experiences, show her you still love her, and point out the positive things she
does. Teach her not to be ashamed of having a problem with stress, grades,
weight, or substance abuse. Learn the warning signs for depression, suicide,
alcoholism, and drug abuse. Do something about them right away. Know where to
turn for professional help.
Even though, at times, you might feel frustrated and tired, everything you do
will make a difference in your daughter's life…and at some point down the
road, she will thank you!
4Parents
& Caregivers
