Parenting expert Steve Biddulph says aunts can be just as important as mothers in raising girls, offering unique guidance and support during a girl’s journey from childhood to adulthood. Speaking on the ABC podcast Parental As Anything with Maggie Dent, the psychologist and author of Raising Girls explained that during certain phases — especially the teen years — girls may resist advice from their mothers but still need help. Biddulph describes aunts, or “auntie figures,” as a “pillar of mental health” for girls, noting that they don’t need to be blood relatives — just trusted women who care deeply. He suggests that aunts begin building bonds around age eight, inviting nieces for stays and later, during their teen years, taking them out regularly for meaningful conversations. According to Biddulph, aunts can ask important life questions, offer a safe space to discuss relationships, and prevent girls from relying solely on peer groups, which can sometimes lead to negative influences...