For Parents
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Girls value relationships and friendships highly, and building ones that are supportive rather than competitive creates a foundation of high self-esteem and confidence.
Studies show that girls' body image and self-esteem plummets as they reach the age of 9, and this continues as they reach adolescence with all of the physical, hormonal, and emotional changes that occur. Girls more often exhibit or experience 'relational aggression' - a form of bullying where girls exclude each other, gossip about each other, or use verbal taunts or put-downs. |
What can we do as parents?
~ Spend time with your girls. Talk with them honestly, and really listen when they talk to you.
~ Love yourself, and reframe any negative thoughts or words you have about yourself into positive affirmations.
~ Model supportive friendships rather than gossip, and encourage healthy competition, such as team work and personal best.
~ Build a network of other parents and girls who love themselves and are kind to each other.
~ Find resources to release or unlearn any negative cultural messages about girls and women.
~ Build authentic, kind communication with your partner, and model an equal and honest partner relationship.
~ Seek out or create a women's circle or men's group to support you through your own journey of life.
~ Spend time with your girls. Talk with them honestly, and really listen when they talk to you.
~ Love yourself, and reframe any negative thoughts or words you have about yourself into positive affirmations.
~ Model supportive friendships rather than gossip, and encourage healthy competition, such as team work and personal best.
~ Build a network of other parents and girls who love themselves and are kind to each other.
~ Find resources to release or unlearn any negative cultural messages about girls and women.
~ Build authentic, kind communication with your partner, and model an equal and honest partner relationship.
~ Seek out or create a women's circle or men's group to support you through your own journey of life.
I also offer Parent Info Sessions to provide tools and information to help parents support their girls through the menarche (first menstruation) and coming-of-age (adolescence) transitions. These fun and informative evenings offer resources and strategies to help maintain high self-esteem, encourage healthy and safe sexuality, and support positive relationships. Please ask me for more details or to schedule a Parent Info Session for your school or community.