We frequently receive questions from people asking for recommendations for specific types of books or movies. In our "Ask A Mighty Girl" feature, we anonymously share select messages that may be of interest to the greater A Mighty Girl community. All messages are shared with the permission of the questioner.
Dear A Mighty Girl,
I have a 4 year-old who is starting to show some needs for a self-confidence boost and help standing up for herself. As parents we empower her on a daily basis, but as she goes into the world of preschool and interactions with friends and peers, we see that she doesn't stand up for herself if she gets cut off in line or if someone takes something she is playing with; instead she starts to cry. Recently she does not want to wear any kind of shorts with a print because "kids will laugh at me."
From conversations with teachers we do not see evidence of this happening, but it is coming from somewhere. I want to get some books that might address these issues directly and am wondering if there are 2 or 3 from the preschool list that you'd really recommend.
Thank you for your time and keep up the great work!
Sincerely,
Melissa
Hi Melissa,
Thank you for your kind words! There are several titles from our preschool collection that I would especially recommend to you. For building her confidence as related to her appearance and self worth, she might enjoy Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon about a little girl doesn't let anyone shake her belief in herself; What I Like About Me, which features kids celebrating their uniqueness (including things like braces, glasses, etc. that kids often feel are negatives), or Spaghetti in a Hot Dog Bun, which features a girl who is proud of her unusual choices, even in the face of criticism.
To encourage her to stand up for herself, check out Millie Fierce, which features a quiet little girl who gets tired of people pushing her around and has to find the balance between being strong and being mean; and Willow Finds A Way, about a girl who's hesitant to confront a friend who's being a bully but finds a non-verbal (and kind) way to handle the problem.
Sometimes preschoolers will cry because they’re not sure how to handle intense emotions -- not just fear or sadness, but also anger. If you think your daughter may need to learn how to handle frustration and anger, you might try reading When Sophie Gets Angry - Really, Really Angry... which is a great conversation starter for things she can do to help deal with her emotions. Having a few strategies or planning some responses when she’s confronted may help her deal with these situations.
For more possibilities, check out our full selection of books about self-esteem and confidence for girls aged 3 - 5.
You can also check our Bullying / Teasing section for more books to help talk to your daughter about how to deal with peers who are being unkind to her or others.
In our new parenting section, we have a category devoted to helping children with body image and self esteem issues and another focused on teasing and bullying if those become problem areas.
Thank you in advance, and all the best to both you and your Mighty Girl!
Katherine Handcock
A Mighty Girl Senior Research Intern
