Based on insights from working with over 1,000 girls in 2024, this article reveals the top fears tween girls face as told to ZGiRLS—like self-doubt, comparisons, and rejection—and offers practical tips for parents to help their daughters build confidence and resilience.

One of the topics that parents ask me about most often is confidence. They can see their daughter’s potential: “if she just had more confidence…” they say, “then she could excel.” All young girls are affected at times by self-doubt, mistakes, and fear that they don’t have the ability to meet the demands placed upon them.