Positive self-talk: How to turn her “Can I?” into an “I will!”
Brought to you by Girl Scouts of Greater Los AngelesSelf-doubt can be a powerful blockade to any girl’s (or adult’s) success. The trick is to develop resiliency early on. Trying something and failing does not actually mean “failure.” Rather, it’s an exciting opportunity to learn, grow and do something even better!
Easier said than done, though, right? At Girl Scouts, we’ve spent over 107 years helping girls in grades K-12 thrive by granting them access to key confidence-building experiences and a consistent support network. Here are some ways you can help your girl turn her ideas into action and her questions into adventure:
Stop solving her problems
Start small in helping her learn how to resolve problems on her own. If she loses a favorite toy or book, use this as a chance to teach her responsibility. Rather than simply calming her down and ordering a replacement, talk to her about developing a plan to use her allowance to purchase a new one. Another way to foster proactive problem-solving is to share your own stories. Tell her about challenges you’ve faced, how you felt and how you got through them. Although she might not immediately relate, she will see that everyone struggles.
Switch up the compliments
If she’s consistently complimented on one facet – say, her swimming or her dancing skills – be sure to let her know how great she is at other things, too. Her identity does not have to defined by just one of her talents. She has many! And, when she’s showing an effort to try something new, let her know how proud you are of her. Emphasize that trying and facing challenges is a huge accomplishment – whether or not she is the best at something.
Help her see her power
When noticing your girls’ skills – however big or small – give her a chance to flex those leadership muscles by asking her to teach you. Maybe she scored a goal during a soccer game (or practice). Get the ball out and ask her for some pointers. Maybe she drew a realistic picture of a horse. Get out the paper and ask her to show you how it’s done. As you let her know you’re curious about her own passions and talents, she’ll build confidence in those areas.
In a world of boys’ clubs, give her a place of her own
Girls are stronger together. Research shows that girls learn best in an all-girl, girl-led and girl-friendly environment. Girl Scouts is a place where she’ll practice different skills, explore her potential, take on leadership positions – and even feel allowed to fail, dust herself off, get up and try again. All-girl experiences require that a girl (or girls) step up and be the leader. In doing so, the girls realize that they are able to have a seat at the table, or even at the head of the table and are thereby more confident, self-assured and ready to compete in the world.
Through programs in STEM, outdoor, entrepreneurship, and life skills, Girl Scouts unleashes the go-getter, innovator, risk-taker and leader in every girl. But it’s not just what girls do in Girl Scouts that helps them develop resiliency, it’s how they do it. Guided by caring adult volunteers, girls take the lead as they work together to plan activities and outings that improve our communities.
Today, girls are dreamers, makers and innovators. Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles’ new campaign #YesIAm is a message to the world that girls possess the power and the skills to make the world a better place. Yes, We Are the Future, Leaders, and Problem Solvers…Yes, We Are Girl Scouts! Join us at girlscoutsla.org.