RAISING

CONFIDENT KIDS

Get a kids eye view

Awkward! (Its puberty)

Competence =
confdence
 KidsHealth.org is the #1
website devoted to childrens
health in English & Spanish

1 million+ visits a
day
PINK LOCKER SOCIETY
book series
Four books - for ages 8 and
up
Three sons

17

15

&7
First day
of school
 Pink Locker
Society BLOG
60,000 questions
18,000+ comments
MY MOM, WHENEVER I TELL
HER SOMETHING, INSTEAD
OF HER UNDERSTANDING
AND GETTING WHAT IM
TRYING TO SAY, SHE FINDS A
WAY TO MAKE IT MY FAULT
OR WILL LATER USE IT TO
EMBARRASS ME.
-DANCEGIRL22
im 12, i like a girl
named jessica and i
dont know what to
do.

We're already "normal"

friends. She seems shy
around me, and i feel shy
around her. We do talk a lot.
She started to ask me "The
questions." Like;How old am
I,how many pets do i have,
my favorite color, etc. things
like that. Does this mean she
likes me too? Is she trying to
fgure me out? We sit next to
each other at lunch a lot. So
maybe i should ask her out?
Meet
Evan!
 Meet
Emily-Anne!
What can parents do?

Listen
Observe
Reach out
 Listen

Is there more to what

your child is saying?
 New book
by the author of
Queen Bees &
Wannabees
(which inspired the
movie Mean Girls)

Interviews with 200+

boys
 Observe

Can you learn anything by

watching your child at a
sports practice or party?
 Reach out

Can you approach them in

a way that wont shut
them down?
 3 ideas for reaching
out
Pick up on cues: If your daughter wanders into the
bra department, theres likely a reason

Consider alternative means of communication:

Many kids say theyd rather text, write a note about
a problem.

Anticipate: No one likes to rush things, but your

children will be glad that you provided information
about the stuff they dont understand and that
everyone is talking about.
 Puberty checklist
O Be informed yourself
O Find multiple ways of communicating
O Do not tease or embarrass
O Keep confidences
 Be informed
Puberty starting slightly earlier
BOYS
O Between 9 and 14

GIRLS
O Between 8 and 13
O First period: Most around 12-13
O First period can arrive as early as 9 and as old as 16.
 Be informed
O Consider norms leg shaving, types
of bras, deodorant, boxers?
 Find multiple ways of
communicating
O Appropriate websites KidsHealth,
Pink Locker Society, Brainpop,
O Books
O Multiple conversations
O Keep it light and positive and
consider privacy.
Book recommendations
 No teasing or
embarrassing
O Its natural, but avoid it.
O Teasing sends the message that you do
not take them or their problems seriously
O Strive to keep confidences and be
sensitive about sharing with opposite
gender parent, siblings, grandparents
etc.
 Confdence:
How Parents
Can Help
O Be in tune with your child, know their
struggles.

O Expand your idea of achievement.

(Let your child lead.)

O Help kids and teens set the right

goals.
True achievement builds confidence.
Remember
Evan?
Underwent years of
treatment

Day-in, day-out
dealing with a front-
and-center difference

Developed a desire
to explain and
promote
understanding
Remember
Emily-Anne?
Bullied

Changed
schools

Struggled to
ft in
With Meryl

And Lady
Gaga
Emily with Mom and Dad
Evan and his Mom