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Today’s digital culture poses unique challenges to the mental health of adolescent girls.

Adolescent girls still need affection, limits, role models, perspective, wisdom, and encouragement.

Effective parenting principles and skills improves the chances that adolescent girls will thrive.

This post is part of a series on adverse childhood experiences. Read the other parts here.

Parenting is challenging, especially for parents with their own hidden wounds from childhood. As a general rule, don’t compare yourself to others. You don’t have to be like anyone else. You have unique experiences and strengths that will reach your children like no one else can. Give yourself credit for the good you do. They don’t need perfection. They need you.

In their classic work, Reviving Ophelia, Pipher and Gilliam brilliantly capture the challenges for adolescent girls coming of age in today’s digital culture. Here are some of their suggestions for parents.

1. Relax and have fun, including times with and apart from the kids.

2. Don’t feel like a failure. Understand the challenges of adolescent girls’ developmental stage and today’s culture. Don’t be too hurt by their rejections as........

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