Ep 18: Girls Need Trusted Adults

--:--
Quote: “This person that I trust…really listens to me, offers me advice and knows when to step in, and when to just sit there and let me tell them what I need to say. And that is just really important to me because sometimes I need help and sometimes I just need an ear to listen.”
(Tavi, 8th grade student)

It takes a village to raise a child, right? In a day and age when social media seems to be the go-to resource for advice, we know in our hearts that girls of every age need at least one trusted adult in whom they can confide, an adult in addition to their parents who can offer an unbiased listening ear or unhurried wise counsel in a problem-solving moment. Yet, as unbelievable as this sounds, research shows that only 40% of students say they can name a trusted adult outside their home. Just what does it take to show up as a “trusted adult” in a girl's life and what difference might it make to a girl if we did so? And do our daughters know how to ensure they have a trusted adult at the ready when they most need one?

Listen in as host Trudy Hall spends time with Brooklyn Raney, the author of One Trusted Adult: How to Build Strong Connections and Healthy Boundaries with Young People, and the founder of an organization of the same name that trains parents, educators,and student leaders to “be the person they needed” as a youngster. An experienced practitioner in this work, Brooklyn is passionate about her mission to ensure that every child on the planet has a trained, committed and motivated trusted adult. Offering helpful anecdotes and useful advice, this episode could change the way you think about partnering with your daughter and the other meaningful adults in her life to help her build a healthy adult support network in these challenging times.

Resources:
ICGS: https://girlsschools.org/
One Trusted Adult: https://www.onetrustedadult.com/
Seattle Girls School: https://www.seattlegirlsschool.org/
21 Feb 2023 English United States Education · Kids & Family

Other recent episodes

Short 6: Digital wellbeing for girls in the social media age 🌷🛜

Bullying and high rates of eating disorders and body dysmorphia are constant worries in the age of social media - for girls and the adults who care about them. In a world where young girls spend up to six hours of their day online, it’s important to help them navigate…
22 May 12 min

Short 5: Why curious girls will save the world 🌍

‘Curiosity killed the cat’ and ‘don’t speak unless spoken to’ are the kinds of phrases many of us grew up hearing. Yet research shows that cultivating curiosity leads to better learning, creativity, and well-being. Helping girls develop their curiosity has immense benefits. They’re likely to take a keener interest in…
17 Apr 12 min

Short 4: Seven Lessons Girls Can Learn from Sport – Even if They’re Not "Sporty"

Ninety-six percent of female CEOs credit their sports participation in high school as a time when they honed valuable leadership skills. Girls who participate in sports not only cultivate physical fitness, but they also develop essential life skills such as teamwork, leadership, and time management. Movement-based education and sports contribute…
20 Mar 11 min

Speaking Your Truth, with Latricia Barksdale

“I feel like your voice is your courage…it’s your bravery.” (Culver Girls Academy student) Can there be any connection more vital in a girl’s life than her connection to her voice, her authentic voice? The word “voice” has multiple meanings in the world of girls. Voice is often a term…
27 Feb 31 min

Navigating Life Online, with Laura Tierney

“Social media is a tool. If people aren’t equipped to navigate it positively, you are going to see negative consequences like anxiety and depression…I liken social media to giving students the key to a car….” (Laura Tierney) For better or for worse, the girls in our lives “do” social media;…
20 Feb 31 min