10 Tips for Raising a Happy and Healthy Daughter

 

Raising children is an exercise in patience, responsibility, and endurance. It’s also one of the greatest joys that life has to offer, but only if you do it right! If you’re looking to raise the perfect daughter, these 10 tips will help you make sure she grows up happy and healthy.

 

1) Never stop giving praise

Raise your daughter to feel good about herself. She may be able to handle criticism, but she needs encouragement. To give your daughter praise, you don’t need grand gestures or expensive presents. Simply giving her positive feedback will do wonders for her self-esteem and confidence. This can be done in several ways: from complimenting her on how she looks or what she’s wearing to celebrating a job well done at school or work. You mustn’t just tell your daughter what you like—be specific in detailing why it is that you admire her at that moment. She deserves it! And, if possible, offer solutions when she is upset with herself. Encourage her to get up after making a mistake so that she learns resilience. These moments are critical opportunities for you to show your daughter love and compassion while also showing her how to cope with failure. Always keep in mind that raising daughters aren’t easy, but it doesn’t have to be hard either.

 

2) Allow her to express herself in ways that you’re comfortable with

It’s hard not to react when our daughters are pushing boundaries. But while it’s important to set limits, you don’t want to stifle their creativity or make them feel that their behavior is wrong. Instead, try to understand where they’re coming from so you can support them—and let them know that there are some situations in which mom and dad will choose not to support your daughter just yet. Once she’s allowed you to explain yourself, be sure she understands why you made your decision. It will help her realize that her desire for independence is normal, but that certain things are still out of bounds—and she might even come up with some ideas on how these boundaries can change!

 

3) Teach her how to be independent

One of my favorite things about being an independent woman is that I don’t need anyone to do anything for me. As my mother, you might think I took care of myself out of necessity—that I was forced to learn how to dress and make my own meals. You would be wrong; that’s just what makes being independent so enjoyable! Sure, it can be nice when someone offers help once in a while, but you can manage without it. Because every child needs some guidance from their parents as they grow up, even if your daughter has different hobbies or interests than you do. If she wants to take gymnastics classes instead of studying piano lessons, let her!

 

4) Lead by example

Children are sponges. They model their behavior after your words and actions. It’s no wonder, then, that parenting is as much about how you treat your daughter as it is about imparting wisdom or knowledge. If you want to raise a strong, confident girl who knows her value in society and holds herself with poise—both in good times and bad—you’ll need to lead by example (see what we did there?). Here are 10 tips that will help you do just that 1. Don’t over-praise: You might think that showering your daughter with compliments is a great way to build up her self-esteem and confidence, but don’t forget that praise has its limits. When used excessively, praise can backfire because it makes children feel like they have to live up to impossible standards set by parents and peers alike. Remember: Your goal isn't simply for your child to grow up feeling special; rather, you want her to grow into an adult who doesn't feel special all of the time!

 

5) Introduce her to new things

One of the greatest gifts you can give your daughter is a spirit of adventure. When she has that, you’ll find that there’s almost nothing she won’t try, whether it’s ice skating or sky diving. Introduce her to new things regularly, as well as activities from her childhood (but not ones that require her to sit in front of a TV all day). Try gardening together or taking art classes—the point is to introduce her to new activities where she can develop skills and interests that will last a lifetime. If she becomes an avid swimmer when she's young, for example, later on, she may decide to take up running marathons if you introduce her to these sports early enough.

 

6) Play, play, play

Studies have shown that children who spend less time watching TV and more time playing outside are happier, healthier, smarter, better communicators, and more socially competent. In fact, kids ages 9 to 12 with low levels of physical activity were two times as likely to be unhappy or depressed. A happy child is sure to bring happiness into your life too. So play games together like hide-and-seek or cards; shoot hoops on basketball courts; walk around your neighborhood (maybe she’ll find something cool in a garbage can); set up an obstacle course in your backyard; swim at a pool together...all kinds of things! And make sure you are modeling good behavior yourself—your daughter is always watching!

 

7) Have realistic expectations of her - she's only 6 months old!

You're her mom, so it's natural to want to spend every minute of every day with her. But don't set yourself up for disappointment by expecting that you'll be able to do everything you'd like. Be realistic about your expectations—she can't go out on playdates yet; she won't remember your friends from college 20 years ago; she probably won't take Mandarin classes when she gets older. Instead, focus on just spending quality time with her; as long as she sees that her parents care about her, even if they aren't always there in person, it will only benefit your relationship in the long run.

 

8) Be patient; it will get easier.

Despite what you may have read or seen in other places, raising a daughter isn’t any harder than raising a son. That said, some unique challenges come with raising a girl. Don’t worry—you’re not alone. As both parents to two young girls (my wife is one of them), here are 10 tips for raising happy and healthy daughters that we’ve learned along the way. I hope they help you deal with your daughter—and if you’re like us, your wife! —in an age-appropriate manner that sets her up for success as she grows into adulthood. 1) Don't rush things

 

9) Don't let your career define you.

Although your career may be an important part of your life, don’t let it become you. Encourage your daughter to have interests that are unrelated to work—whether it’s music, art, or sports. Modeling a healthy lifestyle is important too: Being active not only helps her maintain a healthy weight but can improve her self-esteem as well. Kids who participate in physical activity often feel more confident because they build muscle tone and stamina while learning how to set goals and succeed at tasks. And don't forget about sleep: Exhaustion isn't just bad for you—it's bad for your children too. Getting quality rest improves concentration, heightens emotional awareness, and enhances problem-solving skills. A good night's sleep can mean higher grades as well!

 

10) Take time out when you need it. Life goes on.

To say that raising children is difficult, exhausting work would be an understatement. While it's important to stay invested in your child's upbringing, it's also important to make sure you're taking time out when you need it. If you find yourself hitting burnout during one of your child's tantrums or crying over an unexpected schoolyard scrape, take some time away from her to reenergize. That way, both of you will come back refreshed -- even if just a little bit calmer.