46 THE QUEENS COURIER • HEALTH • FEBRUARY 7, 2019 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
health
Championing girls’ confi dence through puberty and beyond
Puberty is a transformational time for
girls that comes with unique challenges
in physical, mental and emotional forms.
Between trying to manage increasingly
complex emotions, adjusting to their
evolving bodies and navigating social
changes, it’s no wonder half of girls lose
confi dence at this moment in life - and
many never fully recover. Th is is why it’s
crucial to not only educate girls about
the changes they’re experiencing, but to
actively support them as they develop
their confi dence.
Th is drop in confi dence can be even
more signifi cant when girls are not prepared.
A recent Always Confi dence &
Puberty Survey revealed that nearly 1 in
5 girls miss school because they do not
have the proper access to period products.
And it’s not just school they miss, it also
means they miss out on activities they
love like sports and clubs. Th ese activities
help build her confi dence and skills, and
missing out can limit a girl’s potential and
opportunities far beyond puberty.
Th ere are many ways that individuals
can help champion girls, and the impact
can be even greater when larger organizations
also come together in support.
For example, Always and Walmart have
joined forces via the Live #LikeAGirl
program, which is aimed at helping
#EndPeriodPoverty for puberty-aged
girls so they can stay in extracurricular
activities. Together, these two companies
are making pad donations to 50 teams in
50 states, and off ering access to puberty
and confi dence education and tips from
key experts. Th e program kicked off in
Florida, where a local martial arts studio
that serves girls in need became a recipient
of the program. Th e girls on the team
talk about their experience here: https://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZBrna5E-
0u4&feature=youtu.be.
Live #LikeAGirl program experts
include New York Times bestselling
author and confi dence expert and
co-founder of Girls Leadership, Rachel
Simmons, and Girlology Co-founder Dr.
Melisa Holmes who will provide information
and coaching to the activity leaders
helping support girls through this
life stage. According to Simmons and
Holmes, these easy-to-action tips can
help you become a champion of girls’
confi dence and provide the best support
system for the girls in your life:
1. Consistently support them through
successes and failures: Whether it is persevering
through a tough class in school
or getting enough practice in before the
talent show, being part of their daily
accomplishments makes these moments
more enjoyable for girls. Consistently
being there and cheering them on is
one of the most important things you
can do for them, especially at puberty.
Expressing praise and noticing how hard
they’ve worked for something, even if
they fail, will help boost their confi dence
in more ways than you may know.
2. Keep them involved in extracurricular
activities: As girls develop their confi -
dence, it’s important to help them discover
their true passions in life - whether it’s
art club, martial arts or soft ball. Create
opportunities for girls to try new activities
and expand their skills. Rachel Simmons
advises that when girls are part of a bigger
team, whether sports, service or the
arts, they learn to work cooperatively and
persevere through setbacks. Learning new
skills will help them grow in confi dence.
3. Have open and frequent discussions
about puberty: At puberty, it can
be nerve-wracking to speak openly about
the physical changes we all experience.
Preparing for “the talk” can feel like a
daunting task, but to help girls better
understand what is going on, Holmes
advises keeping an open and positive dialogue
about what to expect. Start the conversations
early and use the correct terms
for body parts. Remind them oft en that
the changes they’re experiencing are completely
normal. Additionally, it’s important
to let girls know the importance of
using safe and hygienic period protection.
For example, if not all girls have access to
proper period products, some may have
to resort to using non-pad materials such
as toilet paper or paper towels which may
result in irritation and rashes. She also
shares that some girls and their families
may not be aware of additional resources
to get the period protection they need.
Talk to your daughter about the resources
that exist in your community, whether
it’s a school nurse, a school pantry or
local shelter.
4. Teach her to bounce right back: Girls
can learn the importance of perseverance
from you, so let her see how you dust
yourself off aft er a setback. Failure is part
of the learning process and role modeling
the right behavior can give her a clear
script for her own positive self-talk. When
she judges herself harshly, remind her of
all she’s accomplished already. Aft er a
misstep, help her to regroup and plan her
next move by asking her to write down
some next steps. Focus on small goals.
For example, if she makes a bad grade
in chemistry, encourage her to aim for a
grade letter higher the next time around
and formulate a study plan to help her
meet that goal.
5. Prepare yourself with the right information,
guidance and advice: Utilizing
the proper resources as a guide to care
for girls during these years will not only
benefi t the girls, but also parents, caretakers,
mentors and coaches in providing
the stability they need for a growth
in their confi dence during puberty and
beyond. Th ere are multiple resources to
rely on in local communities that can
make sure you’re helping girls navigate
in the best way possible, including recreation
centers, community centers, educational
classes and online resources like
www.Always.com.
By following these steps, you can help
the girls in your life navigate puberty with
greater ease and create a strong foundation
for their confi dence throughout life.
Courtesy BPT
/watch?v=MZBrna5E-0u4&feature=youtu.be
/watch?v=MZBrna5E-0u4&feature=youtu.be
/watch?v=MZBrna5E-0u4&feature=youtu.be
/www.Always.com
/WWW.QNS.COM
/watch?v=MZBrna5E-
/www.Always.com
/watch?v=MZBrna5E-0u4&feature=youtu.be
/watch?v=MZBrna5E-0u4&feature=youtu.be
/watch?v=MZBrna5E-0u4&feature=youtu.be
/www.Always.com
/WWW.QNS.COM
/watch?v=MZBrna5E-
/www.Always.com
