Family Books Help Pre-Teen Girls

of the best things a parent can do to boost thesays that well-being involves every person at
self-esteem of pre-teen girls is to share family bookspersonal, family and community levels. Personal
about their worth. Starting in early childhood andwell-being includes hope and optimism that prevents
going throughout life, girls and women look at lifeabuse. Hope-filled stories show how girls make a
shaped by stories told to them. Stories affect thesignificant difference for good. When you treasure
worldview and belief systems of both girls and boys.girls, their self-esteem grows. Family and society
Did you ever stop to think how certain storiesbecome stronger and more loving.
influence pre-teen girls?How do parents make a safe environment for
Consider child abuse and bullying. Child abuse is thepre-teen children? Discover and read meaningful
direct result of a lack of respect for the dignity andadventure stories that value the contribution of girls
potential of children. Statistics show that almost 80%and women. Find books with a hope-filled story about
of child abuse is caused by parents or familypre-teen girls and boys. For example, consider stories
members. Pre-teen girls are verbally and emotionallythat have these five elements:
challenged at school. According to Prevent ChildFirst, there is a spirit of collaboration. Children work
Abuse America, nearly 160,000 children stay hometogether instead of against one another.
every day because of bullying.Second, the heroes in the story have a mission to
In the United States alone, there are more than 11serve others. This could be helping to solve a
million pre-teen girls who are between the ages 9problem, lend assistance, or provide kind words and
through 13. Girls face a special challenge. When girlsdeeds.
are hurt by emotional abuse, they can develop aThird, the book follows a progressive story line
lasting cycle of feeling depressed, anxious, or fearful.where the characters of boys and girls are growing
They can develop low self-esteem that leads todeeper and more meaningful. Avoid stories where no
inappropriate or troubled relationships. They lack trustgrowth happens.
in others and teach their own children not to trustFourth, the story illustrates virtues, not vices. For
others. Girls and women are experts in relationships,example, hope replaces despair. Peaceful and creative
much more so then boys and men. So when ansolutions replace violence. Respect for all characters is
emotionally abused girl grows up to be a mother orthe main focus of the story.
grandmother, what about her children?Fifth, the book imagines a positive ending that
What contributes to the overall debasing of girls?children can associate with. Closure is an important
Have you considered how stories build negativeaspect of the book. This may include scenes of
thoughts and beliefs about the value of girls?reconcilation, forgiveness, reunion and other positive
Pre-teen books about boys or men with power showheart-felt events.
that it is all right to bully and verbally or emotionallyWhen hope and optimism win out, pre-teen girls can
abuse girls. Even some of the leading adventureimagine how they can make life better for everyone.
stories contain violence. Boys act as warriors andThe girls of today become the mothers, business and
treat girls as victims. These stories abuse the realcivic leaders of tomorrow. To break the cycle of
value of children and teach them unsafe roles.violence and improve lives of pre-teen girls and boys,
Preventing abuse depends on developing well-being.tell stories of hope and optimism. Family books with
Well-being is a state where everyone is respectedpositive messages provide parents with an excellent
and treated with dignity. Prevent Child Abuse Americaplace to start.