What would you say to a twelve years old girl? 🧒

Encouraging and validating words help a twelve-year-old girl feel secure as she navigates a time of big changes in her body, friendships, and identity.

Core Messages of Support
“I am always here for you." Reassure her that your love and support are unconditional, no matter how moody or independent she acts."Your feelings make sense."
Validate her emotions instead of minimizing them when she feels overwhelmed, stressed, or misunderstood."You are so much more than how you look."
Praise her intelligence, creativity, kindness, and effort rather than focusing solely on appearance.

Communication Tips
Listen actively:
Let her talk about her favorite books, shows, or friends without immediate judgment or correction.
Avoid rapid-fire questions:
Instead of interrogating her about school, make open-ended and low-pressure statements like, "I'm here if you want to talk about your day".
Show curiosity:
Ask her to teach you about things she enjoys or is good at to build mutual trust and respect.

These are ideas for relatives, since strangers might find twelve years olds unresponsive.