According to a study from the University of North Carolina, girls who have good fitness and exercise habits in their middle school years are more confident than their peers -- and they remain in better shape.
An amazing discovery from the researchers at the University of North Carolina was that these benefits for middle school girls are true regardless of how much the girls eat.
According to Marj Snyder of the Women's Sports Foundation, an organization dedicated to helping the lives of girls and women through sports, here are some great mother-daughter strategies:
1. Get fit with your daughter -- Your willingness to actually do activities together is one of the most positive messages you can send to preteens. It doesn't have to be a sport such as basketball. It can be going for a power walk or taking an aerobics class together.
2. Expose her to different activities -- Girls this age have a narrow definition of "sports." Take her to a fencing match or an equestrian event. She may really like it -- and want to try it. If your daughter has never played a sport, don't sign her up for a competitive league. Instead, suggest a hip-hop class or swimming -- any fun activity that gets her moving.
3. Avoid "thinspiration" -- If you promote athletics as a weight-loss technique, girls this age are bound to think of other, easier ways to shed pounds, such as not eating. Instead, talk about how being active can make her feel good, and explain that, just like winning, getting fit is a byproduct of good competition.
