Young Girls’ Challenge

Seven in ten girls believe they are not good enough or do not measure up in some way, including their looks, performance in school and relationships with family and friends

62% of all girls feel insecure or not sure of themselves

71% of girls with low self-esteem feel their appearance does not measure up, including not feeling pretty enough, thin enough, stylish or trendy enough

78% of girls with low self-esteem admit it is hard to feel good about school when you do not feel good about how you look

Here’s the tipping point:
Only 67% of girls age 13-17 turn to their mother as a resource when feeling badly about themselves compared to 91% of girls ages 8-12*

I don’t know about you, but from where I sit that is simply unacceptable. The good news is, there is something we can do!

According to a study conducted by the Girl Scouts Research Institute – Mothers or other female role models have the most power to positively impact the self-esteem of the special girl(s) in their lives.

There is so much pressure on girls to achieve, excel, be unique yet fit in, grasp every opportunity and contribute to the world around them that sometimes they simply get lost in the shuffle. Our goal is to help them develop a positive self-image, confidence, and willing spirit to successfully navigate the ever-changing social landscape and manage the challenges they will face growing up.

If you are the mother, aunt, sister or other female mentor of a girl age 6-12 you are likely familiar with the ups and downs that go with the territory. From the sassy stage to the rolling of the eyes to hearing “whatever” as a standard response, we’ve seen (and heard) it all. Many times we know with crystal clarity what is going on with our girls while other times it’s a mystery for the ages. If you believe that the special girl in your life falls into one of the percentages noted above…have faith! We have programs that may be just what you are looking for.

Our program is based on based on 5 Core Concepts and Our Guiding Principles. We have developed workshops, camps and other activities specifically for 1st – 5th grade girls. Life can get really crazy once they reach middle school and if we can fill their minds and hearts with positive self-talk, encouragement, confidence, love, and the courage to freely discover themselves and their special place in this world we will have successfully faced the giant and won at least part of the battle.

Have you seen this girl?

Does she dress or “act out” in ways that may be sending the wrong message?

Does she shy away from group activities?

Do her teachers comment that she doesn’t participate in class even though they know she is capable?

Is she overbearing with siblings and/or friends?

Does she use unflattering or unkind words to describe herself or others?

Is she hesitant to try new activities or sports? Is she open to new experiences?

How does she handle conflict? Can she manage sticky situations or avoid them all together?

With younger girls, 1st – 2nd, the focus tends to be primarily on friendships and learning to navigate the social landscape. One of the first big shifts seems to be around 3rd grade when the game begins to change. With age also comes higher expectations, increased social pressures, busy activity schedules and greater awareness of body image and appearance. By providing these girls with tools, resources and most importantly, ourselves, we are arming them to successfully navigate their ever-changing worlds.

Why not check out our Programs including mother/daughter workshops and summer camps to see which one is a good fit for the special girl in your life? Our girls need us now more than ever and we invite you to join us in our commitment to turn these numbers around and start growing strong confident girls from the inside out!

*Findings from the study Real Girls, Real Pressure: A National Report on the State of Self-Esteem commissioned by the Dove Self-Esteem Fund