"My daughter is not like the other girls in her school – while they've started to wear mini-skirts and flowery tops and to sit and chat at recess, she's still in her jeans and t-shirts and playing sports with the boys at recess. I've always liked that she's followed her interests but I don't want her to be picked on someday for being so different from the other girls. Should I help her fit in with the girls or leave it alone for now?"

Dr. Swanson Says…
It depends. Did your daughter indicate in any way that she would like to wear flowery tops and mini-skirts or that she doesn't really care for sports? If so, it would make sense to have a conversation about adding some new (age-appropriate) clothes to her closet and/or about how she can ask to join in other activities at recess. Be sure not to impose your own needs and fears into your daughter – if your daughter feels fine with her style and choice of activities, you should celebrate the fact that she is unique and comfortable with herself not to conform to some limiting standard of what it means to be a girl. Please, please don't make any statement that even hints in the slightest way that her style or her interests are "wrong" – she needs your unconditional love and acceptance as she explores styles and interests as she grows up.

Juliette Says…
Before you do anything, you should see what your daughter wants. You don't want to force anything on her that she isn't comfortable with. If she says that she wants to wear mini-skirts and flowery tops, then you should buy her a cute skirt, but if she is perfectly comfortable and fine with what she is already wearing, then leave it alone. It's cool that she isn't just following the crowd and is still doing what she likes to do. Girls start to become interested in different things at different times in their lives, and just because she isn't interested in these girl things right now, doesn't mean that she won't be later. You should just leave it like it is right now, and just let her have fun and be who she wants to be.