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Special Collections

Easing Her Way Through Puberty
A girl’s puberty journey is an incredible trip—the most extraordinary transformation of her body since infancy. For girls and parents, it’s a time of joy as well as confusion and anxiety as a daughter and the loving adults around her chart her course, which can begin as early as first grade and continue through high school. In this Special Collection, you’ll find guidance on talking with her about issues from periods to breasts to body odor in a way that will support her through the changes she’s undergoing. And you’ll find resources on issues such as her first gynecological exam and the increasing incidence of early puberty, with advice from experts as well as wisdom from parents like you.

Navigating Harmful Media & Marketing
Girls are barraged more than ever by media and marketing messages that are harmful to females (and males). Wherever a girl looks--online, cell phone display, magazines, movies, even the inside of public bathroom walls--she's stalked by the same sentiment: You're not good enough until you see, do, or buy…THIS. It's hard not to feel overwhelmed as a parent (or a girl!), but there are many ways to tame media influence. We can start today by opening up one simple conversation topic: What does she think are happier, healthier ways to live, and how much will we let media producers and marketers decide this for us?

School and extras: Feeling successful and unstressed
Your daughter likely spends most of her waking hours at school and extracurricular activities—which are also the focus of her social interactions. So it's not surprising if a girl sometimes feels overwhelmed or disengaged by the challenges of her school-based world. If you need advice on how to help her with school stress, harassment or bullying, or making sure she's inspired by all the important academic areas offered, check out this Daughters Special Collection. You'll find plenty of advice from experts and other parents on how to keep her school years an exciting foundation for her future adulthood.

Steering her clear of drinking, drugs and smoking
Girls are now about as likely to drink, use drugs (including dangerous prescription drugs) and smoke as boys. We can help a girl tempted or already harmed by substance abuse, say our experts. In this Special Collection, you'll learn about communication basics to draw her out about what she sees and thinks about peer substance use, and how to show our empathy for the "cool" appeal at the same time as we express our values and guidelines. Together, you can explore the stresses your girls may face in family, school, and community life that may make substance use attractive. Bottom line, she'll feel assured that she'll always have a solid source of support to face down substance abuse.

When peers are hurtful: Dealing with cliques and bullies
Girls can be deeply wounded by hurtful behavior of both friends and peers. Gossip, excluding behavior, insults, and humiliating words and actions—often from other girls—can make a girl feel depressed, fearful, and isolated. We can offer a hurting girl unstinting support and make home a safe haven through painful times, but we can also do much more. Experts, as well as experienced parents, offer advice, such as starting a girls’ group that gets girls bonding as allies instead of enemies. And even if your girl isn’t a victim (or initiator) of mean behavior, she can learn ways to help others as a supportive bystander.

You’re driving me crazy! Calming the clashes with her
You're far from alone if parent-daughter battles are escalating in your household— it can start as early as elementary school as our daughters try out their growing independence at the same time as they're dealing with see-saw hormones and emotions. But we can cool the conflict, says experts and parents in this Special Collection, by first encouraging a girl to recognize the roots of her frustrations, such as relentless cultural pressures to look and act older as well as friendship issues and school stresses. And we can keep communication open about the ways we all contribute to the bickering and brainstorm solutions together. In the end, we can't prevent all battles, but she'll know that you're at her side to keep her growing-up years happy and peaceful.