Helping Kids Thrive

Healthy Girls

As they approach adolescence, most girls are lively, forthright, and full of themselves in the very best sense of the phrase. Unfortunately, many girls run into trouble during this key time of transition, especially when faced with mixed cultural messages about what it means to be female.

Do guidance counselors express concern about disordered eating and body preoccupation, especially among girls? Are girls exhibiting precocious sexual behaviors? Would they benefit from coaching to boost confidence, manage stress, or develop social skills? Do parents seek practical tips on how to raise resilient daughters?

HKT offers trainings, forums, special events, and curricula to help you see girls through adolescence with a strong sense of self-worth: healthy and happy in mind, body, spirit, and relationships. Contact us to learn more.

Staff Training

Provide your staff with needed information and skills to support girls’ healthy development. Trainings run from 2 hours to a full day. Sample topics:

  • Eating disorders prevention
  • Social bullying prevention
  • Boosting girls’ self- and body-esteem
  • Latest research on girls’ development
  • Media literacy and activism
  • Promoting healthy sexuality
  • Gender equity
  • Curriculum training in Full of Ourselves or Making Connections

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Parent Education

Running from 2 hours to a half day, parent forums are designed to help adult family members better understand and support their growing girls. Sample topics:

  • Talking to girls: from grades to peer pressure to sexuality
  • If your daughter’s growing up too fast…
  • Boosting girls’ self- and body-esteem
  • Dealing with “mean girls”
  • How to be positively “counter cultural” on girls’ behalf
  • Teaching girls to be healthy risk-takers
  • Limit-setting in cyberspace
  • Preparing for “The Talk” (or, better yet, “Talks”)
  • Championing girls’ friendships
  • “Top 10” resource list

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Girl Forums

HKT designs lively forums and activities to empower girls in grades K-12. Sample topics:

  • Assertiveness 101
  • Creativity 101
  • Leadership 101
  • Claiming our strengths
  • Social issues at any age
  • Sex, drugs & rock n’ roll
  • Media literacy: Who says?
  • Social action: Changing the world for the better
  • Decisions, Decisions
  • Conflict resolution role plays
  • Communication skills: What would you say?
  • Great goals
  • Self-discovery surveys
  • Yoga basics & other stress relievers

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Special Events

Bring HKT on board to help design and run celebratory events in your school or community. Sample events:

  • Moms & daughters dinners
  • Dads & daughters breakfasts
  • Theme-based collaborative art projects: gigantic puzzle pieces, full-scale billboards, life maps
  • Day-long wellness conferences including workshops in self-defense, yoga, meditation, and other areas of interest
  • Our Astonishing Bodies/Ourselves celebrations

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Lisa is gifted, I mean absolutely gifted, in her rapport with adolescents. Her ability to quickly establish a trusting environment with students she’d never met before was nothing short of magical! Anne Lynch, Wellness Specialist
Sudbury Public Schools, MA

Did You Know…

  • After reading fashion magazines, girls show increased signs of depression and a drop in body satisfaction.
  • Participation in sports is linked with numerous health and psychological benefits for girls.
  • Contrary to popular opinion, parents, rather than peers or the media, have the greatest influence on their daughters’ lives and life choices.

Resources

Check out these guides related to girls’ healthy development, eating disorders prevention, and gender equity: Full of Ourselves, Making Connections, and Take Our Daughters & Sons to Work Day activities. » more information.