Let’s face it, it’s a scary world out there. We’re doing our best, parents—aren’t we? We exercise all the online parental controls we can, we try to stay hip and current so they’ll want to talk to us about the things on their mind, rather than hiding from us; we try to strike the perfect balance between parent and friend.
But at the end of the day, we can’t hold their hands through every minute of their lives. We plant the seeds of kindness, empathy, and confidence, shower them with love, and hopefully, watch them bloom.
Girls in particular are up against quite a few hurdles, and these days, it’s absolutely essential that we encourage them from the get-go to love themselves, embrace their unique qualities and imperfections, find friends who make them truly happy, and respect themselves, body and soul. Thankfully, we’re not the only ones who have recognized a need to empower our girls in this day and age.
There are more resources than ever before to help your daughter shine bright like the star she is. Here are just a few from around the GTA—and yes, right in your own backyard.
Ivivva
Inspired by active girls and created by Lululemon Athletica, Ivivva stores truly celebrate girls—not just by outfitting them in adorable, quality athletic wear, but by offering experiences that connect girls through movement and community.
Stores all across the GTA offer complimentary weekend fitness classes for girls such as yoga and dance, as well as ‘Dreams and Goals’ workshops, where girls can set goals and work towards achieving them surrounded by the support of their peers. Visit your local ivivva store for details on their location’s unique program offerings.
Dazzling Divas
Looking for your tween’s next birthday party idea? Look no further than Dazzling Divas, a mobile spa party option that celebrates tween girls’ inner and outer beauty through a variety of creative services. It’s not just about the spa treatment; it’s about the soul treatment.
Through their unique workshops, parties and after school programs, Dazzling Divas facilitators cover topics ranging from healthy lifestyles and body image, to self-respect, discovering “me”, setting goals, and more in fun and engaging ways.
Girls Inc.
Girls Incorporated Identity Programs are researched-based and encourage girls ages 6–18 to take risks and master physical, intellectual, and emotional challenges. Offered throughout York Region at the request of groups, organizations, school boards, and more, Girls Inc. workshops run after school, on weekends and evenings.
With their diverse range of programming, find the fit that’s right for your daughter. For example, ‘Friendly PEERsuasion’ focuses on building skills for resisting pressure to use harmful substances such as alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs for girls ages 11–14.
‘Girls Inc. Leadership’ for girls age 9–14 creates lasting social change and encourages leadership skills development by partnering girls and women in community action projects chosen by the girls themselves and ‘Girls Inc.
Media Literacy’ program encourages girls to think critically about media messages and fosters their awareness of the power of the media and its effects on girls for ages 6–18.
ViBE Dance and Fitness
Have a budding dancer in your house, but don’t love the scene in the competitive circuit? With a mantra of ‘sweating and smiling’, ViBE Dance and Fitness in Vaughan sets itself apart from the rest with their unique no-competition philosophy.
This recreational dance and fitness studio for children, teens, and adults prides itself on challenging each and every dancer to be the best they can be without worrying about being perfect or earning a medal.
Health and happiness are truly the key to this dance school’s success, and it’s no surprise dancers return year after year to continue ‘feeling the vibe’.
Practice Mindfulness
It’s not just a fad. Mindfulness is a mental state achieved by focusing one’s awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one’s feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations. Often used as a therapeutic technique, mindfulness is now being practiced by students of all ages, and is truly a skill with endless benefits impacting what we eat, what we say, how we approach others and how we look at ourselves.
Toronto based clinical social worker and author Sara Marlowe incorporates mindfulness into her work with children, youth, teenagers, and adults. Her website, mindfulfamilies.ca and her blog, Adventures in Mindful Parenting offer great tips for incorporating this practice into your family’s daily life.
Start a Girls’ Club in your own backyard!
You don’t need to be formally trained to help your daughter feel good about herself. Grab some friends, set up some blankets in your own backyard, and start a girls’ club that focuses on open communication, acts of kindness, sharing of ideas, and getting involved in the community.
Find opportunities to volunteer locally, prepare care packages for those in need and deliver them, invite guest speakers to share different concepts with the gang, and before you know it, you’ll have created a circle of trust and a community all her own—way to go, Mom!
Do you have a tip or resource for empowering girls? Share it with us on Facebook or Twitter!
READ MORE LIKE THIS:
- Barbie Gets Brains: Imagine the Possibilities
- Extreme Indoor Sports for (Totally Rad) Kids
- 6 Tips to Keep Young Minds Active This Summer
*Looking for awesome programs and activities for your kids? Search our directory for Sports for Kids, Specialty Programs and Clubs, and Weekend and After School Programs in Toronto.
Sign up for our newsletters to get parenting and family fun articles delivered to you!
