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News
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Girls
Develop
Health
and Confidence Through ISU Extension Programs
Posted 28 June
2010
Programs that support
the development of girls’ healthy attitudes about themselves and their
lifestyles, like those offered through Iowa State University Extension,
are vital for today’s youth, notes Keli Tallman, who leads program
evaluation and research for ISU Extension 4-H Youth
Development.
“If girls are provided opportunities and the supports necessary to
improve their health and self-confidence, they can develop into women
who are resilient to prevailing negative environmental influences that
surround youth each and every day,” Tallman said.
A 2005 study published by the Girl Scout Research Institute showed that
many girls are more concerned about appearing “normal” and being
accepted by their peers than maintaining good diet and exercise habits.
To promote healthy media messages about girls and women and to
encourage more positive programming for girls’ health and self-esteem,
the Girl Scouts initiated the Healthy Media for Youth Act. The act was
introduced in Congress this spring.
ISU Extension supports the mission of developing positive environments
for girls, Tallman said. Through participation in ISU Extension family life
and 4-H programs,
girls are offered multiple experiences to help develop healthy
lifestyles while effectively facing the pressures that adolescence,
culture and media often present to young people.
“Families desperately need a place where they can go to get assistance
on how to talk about all the things kids are being bombarded with in
today’s media,” said Donna Donald, an ISU Extension family life program
specialist.
Girl
Talk is a program offered through ISU Extension for fifth and sixth
grade girls and their mothers. The four-session program offers girls
and their mothers or female caregivers a way to improve communication
with each other.
“Schools have sex education and health classes, but they give just the
facts,” said Donald. “Girl Talk is about facilitating communication
between girls and their mothers.”
Subjects covered in the Girl Talk curriculum include sexuality, hygiene
and female health issues. Girls in fifth and sixth grade are going
through physical and emotional changes. It’s important for their
relationships, self-esteem and health to be able to communicate with
their family.
The power of the Girl Talk curriculum allows mothers and their
daughters to generate healthy communication and therefore a healthy
relationship.
“It is really opening channels of communication,” said Donald. “When
they face decisions and issues with other kids, these girls can go
home, sit down and comfortably talk with mom.”
The program began in 1995 and was revised in 2008 to meet current
health issues. ISU Extension county offices often work with school
districts in the state to begin individual programs.
Extension employees are also exploring new programs that focus on
girls’ health.
Girl’s Circle is a curriculum that has been used by Janet Smith, Henry
County program specialist, and Ali Reif, Henry County youth
coordinator. Teens Reaching Youth (TRY), an afterschool program in Mt.
Pleasant, uses the curriculum. Reif, Susan Mast, the Mt. Pleasant
children’s librarian, and five high school girls use the Girl’s Circle
curriculum to communicate with middle school girls about important
issues.
“We talk about issues that the girls don’t necessarily feel comfortable
talking about with their parents, so it gives girls a chance to find
out developmental information they are curious about,” said Reif.
The 4-H club discusses a different major topic at each meeting.
These topics usually include things like body image, individuality,
friendship and self-confidence.
“There is too much stress associated with friendships and belonging,”
said Reif. “This 4-H club makes it possible for girls to understand
their differences and accept one another.”
TRY creates an environment for middle school girls to learn from each
other and discuss issues that they may not be able to discuss anywhere
else.
The 4-H club also coordinates group activities. The girls made cards
for troops overseas that the soldiers could use to communicate with
their loved ones back home. These types of activities give the middle
schoolers a chance to bond with a diverse group of girls that isn’t
associated with societal and cultural pressures.
Henry County 4-H decided to adopt the Girl’s Circle curriculum with the
TRY 4-H club, but Girl’s Circle is available for any interested
group.
“This program is a great one to be connected with 4-H, because these
girls are learning leadership skills by working together as a 4-H
club,” said Reif.
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