Raising a Daughter

Book excerpt: Girls are born believing that they can do anything, but our media-driven culture of mixed messages and conflicting values can make growing up a confusing and risky business. And for parents, it is a daunting responsibility to raise confident, independent daughters while still keeping them safe. Jeanne and Don Elium address such complex challenges as: • peer pressure and evolving social roles • emotional effects of physical changes • moodiness, eating disorders, and depression • the consequences of early sexuality • the gender gap between girls and boys • new research on ADD and ADHD in girls • daughters and single parenting Raising A Daughter guides parents through each stage of a girl’s development, from infant to toddler, through middle childhood, the teen years, and on into early adulthood. A bestseller since 1994, this newly revised classic offers a practical exploration of what it means to have a daughter, and a compassionate study of what it means to be a woman coming of age in today’s world.