>>447274>Any advice on what you would tell a ten year old for her to understand that she is just a kid, and that fact isnt meant to dehumanize or belittle her but literally to protect her?I'm not a parent, but I remember being that age and feeling so very adult because it was the oldest I'd ever been. I don't think that you can make kids this age understand the value of youth and innocence before they have adulthood to compare it to, and any attempt is going to come off as insulting and alienating. The entire project of life from about this age straight on through the end of adolescence is becoming an adult, and being babied makes you feel like your parents are denying your humanity. What you can do is encourage her personal growth and foster her existing interests in a healthy way by offering age-appropriate things that she still finds value in. What I like about your approach to the skincare conversation is that you didn't say anything about age or maturity, you simply logically explained that it wouldn't help her, and she understood that. Similarly, if she's into musicals, saying "you don't understand this like I understand this, stop caring about heathers the musical" won't protect her in any way. But what you're learning about her is that she likes music and drama and comedy. It might be a good time to get her to pick up a musical instrument or join choir, maybe even watch musical tv shows or movies with her, or take her to see Cats? Watch a Shakespeare film adaptation with her? and encourage her to develop interests in a way that keeps her stimulated.
That said, the best thing you can do to keep a teen girl safe is to educate her, teach her good values, and be a parent she can trust. Hiding information about the world won't keep her safe in the same way that having frank conversations about reality, risk, safety, and navigating the world in a smart way will.