Girls ages 13-14: Brace yourself

You know it’s coming: those teen years when kids go crazy.

If you think that your sensible, sweet 11-year-old won’t turn into a beast at age 13, think again.

According to the Wall Street Journal, between ages 13 and 14, a girl’s response to stress goes on the fritz. They become extremely sensitive to social stresses, especially rejection, according to numerous studies of adolescents and most parents who suddenly face door slamming and tears.

According to one study in the Journal of Family Psychology, family support can be a stress buffer. Families can provide companionship, problem-solving ideas and emotional support. When these elements are present, girls are less likely to become depressed.

Coaching is important during this period. Mothers can teach many social skills to girls.
Mothers can encourage girls to chat with and make friends with girls who share their interests. Girls can learn to reject those who are unkind, to make amends to others and compromise.

It’s important for teens to make friends during this period. By the time they reach 15 years old, friendships can help keep them out of trouble. According to a 2016 study in the Netherlands, chemical changes in the brain make risk taking desirable while suppressing fears of danger.

By age 14, teen years, girls should know how to sooth themselves through meditation, prayer, exercise or music.

These skills can help prevent girls from constantly ruminating on their own emotions, exaggerating their feelings or making them the center of focus.