Connecting with Parents, with Dr. Judith Locke

--:--
“To have a good relationship with your child is extremely important, but not such a good relationship that you are describing your child as your best friend.” (Dr. Judith Locke)

Is there any relationship, any connection, more vital, more critical in a young girl’s life than the one she has with her parents on the journey from girlhood to womanhood? Yet, is there any connection more fraught and fragile? Parenting a girl as she moves along the developmental path from dependence to independence is not a job for the faint of heart. There has never been a time when so much guidance has been available to parents, yet neither has there ever been a time when parents have struggled more to get parenting “right,” if there even is such a thing. This episode of The Connected Girl embraces the topic of maintaining a healthy connection to a girl as she becomes her own person, walking in the world in ways that are sometimes hard for parents to understand, making mistakes and choices that make her parents shake their heads and make her roll her eyes.

Listen in as host Trudy Hall invites Dr. Judith Locke, a clinical psychologist and researcher from Australia, and the author of The Bonsai Child and The Bonsai Student, to share her theory about modern parenting. She posits that even though parents are spending more time than ever parenting their children, the self-esteem and resilience in their children is not reflecting that investment. What gives? She has a theory that makes a great deal of sense and some advice to go along with it. The girls voices you will hear give heartwarming testimony to the reality that girls truly want and need their parents in their lives.

Resources:
The Bonsai Child:https://www.bonsaichild.com/
The Bonsai Student:https://www.bonsaichild.com/#about-student-book
International Coalition of Girls Schools: https://girlsschools.org/
Tell Our Story :https://girlsschools.org/advocacy/blog/2022/07/13/the-icgs-community-poem/
30 Jan English United States Education · Kids & Family

Other recent episodes

Uplifting Girls’ Leadership

How do leaders get to the top? 🚀💼 We take a look at some of the factors that can help get girls there, from playing a sport or an instrument (yes, really) to being in environments that embrace equality. Join us as we explore nuggets from our podcast and ICGS…
14 Nov 15 min

Empowering girls to disagree with confidence and civility

🎤“Tell us what you really think!” Never has it felt so difficult to do this without the fear of being shouted down or shamed. Engaging in discussions about divisive topics can feel impossible in our polarized society. And if it’s tough for adults, imagine how hard it is for our…
23 Oct 15 min

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

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

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