Raising Confident Girls: Mental Wellness and Body Image in the Digital Age
Raising daughters in 2025 can feel like trying to build confidence in the middle of a hurricane.
You’re not just parenting through normal kid stuff — you’re parenting through social media, algorithm-driven beauty standards, constant comparison, and a world that loves to tell girls they’re “not enough” before they even hit middle school.
In a recent episode of What I Wish I Knew, we sat down with Dr. Cara Reeves, a clinical psychologist and the Chief of Mental Wellness at Girlology, to talk about how parents can support their daughters’ mental wellness, emotional development, and body confidence in the digital age.
This episode is a must-listen if you’re raising girls and wondering: How do I protect their self-esteem without becoming a helicopter parent?
What Is Girlology?
Girlology is a physician-designed health education platform created nearly 20 years ago by a gynecologist and a pediatrician. And in a world where “health advice” can come from a 17-year-old influencer with a ring light… this matters.
Girlology’s content is written by doctors, psychologists, and dermatologists, making it a trusted, science-backed resource for girls navigating puberty and parents trying to keep up with emotional and physical development.
One of the coolest features?
Dr. Momfidence — an AI tool on their homepage that answers questions using only Girlology’s physician-created content. So instead of doom-Googling at midnight, you get evidence-based guidance you can actually trust.
When to Start Talking About Mental Wellness and Body Image
Here’s what we loved about Dr. Cara Reeves: she doesn’t make this complicated.
When parents ask, “When should I start talking about mental health and body image?” her answer is:
It’s never too early — and it’s never too late.
Even for young girls (think age 5+), she recommends starting with the basics:
1. Label the “Big Feelings”
Help your child name what they’re feeling: anger, sadness, worry, embarrassment, anxiety. This builds emotional awareness — and emotional awareness is the foundation for mental wellness.
2. Normalize the Experience
Big feelings aren’t bad. They’re human. Girls need to know they’re not “too much” for feeling deeply.
3. Keep It Simple
Dr. Reeves called out something every parent needs to hear: we tend to over-talk.
One or two sentences. Then pause. Kids check out faster than we think.
Parenting Tips for Social Media: Navigating the “Digital Beast”
Dr. Reeves described today’s online world as a whole different beast — and she’s not wrong.
Parents in the ‘80s and ‘90s could kind of corral media exposure. But now? Kids don’t just “find content.” Content finds them.
Here’s why social media hits girls so hard:
The Reward Loop
Likes, views, comments — it’s instant dopamine. That reward system makes it extremely difficult for kids to step away.
Predatory Algorithms
Algorithms can identify vulnerability fast. If a girl searches dieting tips, she can quickly get fed content about restriction, weight loss, and disordered eating — without ever asking for it.
Standardized Beauty Pressure
Girls are being shown a narrow, engineered version of “beauty” on repeat. And the message becomes:
Change yourself to fit the standard.
Body Confidence for Girls Starts at Home
Dr. Reeves shared a stat that honestly made us want to scream into a pillow:
About 50% of middle school girls are unhappy with their bodies
That number rises to 80% in high school
And here’s the kicker: girls are not born hating their bodies.
They learn it.
Which is why Dr. Reeves emphasized something that might feel uncomfortable but is also empowering:
The first place to start is at home.
Moms (and parents in general) are the biggest influence on how daughters view themselves. And it’s often not what we say — it’s what we model.
Girls notice:
how you talk about your body
how you talk about food
whether you treat self-care like a luxury or a necessity
whether you constantly put your needs last
Your daughter is watching. Always.
(We know. It’s terrifying.)
The Power of Being a “Safe Space”
One of the best parts of this conversation was Dr. Reeves explaining what it actually means to be a safe space for your daughter.
It doesn’t mean you never correct them.
It means your child trusts you enough to come to you even when they’ve messed up.
When a child confesses something hard, Dr. Reeves suggests:
1. Check your own emotional intelligence
Notice your anger rising. Notice your panic. Name it internally.
2. Take a time out if needed
You can literally say:
“I need a minute to get my feelings under control so I can respond the right way.”
That is emotional intelligence for kids in action.
3. Find the life lesson
Every conflict is an opportunity to teach respect, boundaries, honesty — and the message:
Mom is a safe place.
A Message of Hope: Kids Are Resilient
We ended this episode feeling something we don’t always feel after parenting conversations:
Hope.
Dr. Reeves reminded us that kids are resilient as hell. Most parents aren’t failing — they’re anxious, overwhelmed, and trying to do right by their kids in a culture that makes it incredibly hard.
But with:
connection
honest conversations
emotional intelligence tools
and boundaries around the digital world
…you can absolutely raise confident girls in the digital age.