Hey, girl empowerment enthusiasts! We've been making graphics like the one above for a little while now, and we'll be incorporating them into our blogs sometimes. Each of them reminds all of us how to talk to, empower, teach, learn from, and be inspired by girls.
The GRRRL Graphic shown above is a reminder that just because some girls like glitter and pink and wearing dresses doesn't mean they can't also like playing with trucks and legos, dressing up like pirates, doing science projects, and playing sports. The concern we have at GRRRL Camp is that if girls are only ever handed one kind of toy (pink/princess/glitter/makeup/doll), they often take that as a message that math, sports, science, and the color blue are not for them. "Girl toys" are often about appearing, while "boy toys" are often about doing. Playing with video games, science kits, and trying out sports all teach you valuable life lessons, help you develop better spatial skills, provide outlets for healthy aggression, build confidence and self-esteem, and foster a lifelong love of movement. We don't want our girls to miss out on these opportunities because we taught them that certain types of play aren't for them. Kids should be able to explore all different type of play, and sometimes they need you to introduce them to a wide variety of these.
Tips:
1) Next time a girl in your life has a birthday, try finding a present for her that's not what everyone else probably got her because they assumed girls only like certain kinds of toys.
2) If you're worried she won't like it because she's never had one/might think it's a "boy toy," spend some time with her and play with it together. Kids as young as 3 often pick up messages like, "superheroes are for boys," and "princesses is for girls" at school or from TV. However, sometimes all it takes is a conversation with a girl that lets her know there's no such thing as a "girl toy" or "boy toy" to empower her to try new things.
3) While admittedly not always as fun for kids in the moment, clothes can make good gifts too. You might end up getting her her new favorite shirt, or one she'll remember as an adult because it was so thoughtful and unique. Here are some awesome shirts that support all different interests girls might have (with links for where to find them) on our new Pinterest page!
Thanks for reading, and keep up the good girl empowerment work!