Free Resources for Parents

Want to know more about the Healthy Transitions for Girls Curriculum?  Download the introduction to the Facilitator’s Guide. Learn how parents and mentors can use the Healthy Transitions Materials for Girls Materials to help the girls they love NOW.

Healthy Transitions for Girls Facilitator’s Guide Introduction

Is there a way to help a girl who doesn’t want to talk about the adolescent changes going on in her life?  You are worried because you see increasing insecurity and focus on appearance, what can you do?  Helping the girl in your life can be as easy as reading a delightful fictional book together.  Princess Academy by Shannon Hale is a wonderful coming-of-age book!  All of the concepts necessary to develop positive body image are found in the themes of Princess Academy.  Use the FREE Princess Academy/Healthy Transitions for Girls Study Guide.  Discuss the themes as you read.  Create a fun, non-threatening way to support the girl you love through the challenges of pre-adolescence and adolescence.

Princess Academy Study Guide

For Parents: Frequently Asked Questions 

Q: Do I need special training to help my daughter build positive body image? 

A: No one knows your daughters needs better than you. You do not need to be a professional “expert” to increase your ability to help your daughter transition through puberty. You do need to make a conscious effort to help your daughter increase her strengths to successfully navigate the pitfalls of puberty.  Healthy Transitions for Girls helps you to know what is normal during adolescence.  Both you and your daughter can increase strengths through this resource.

Q: How do I know what areas I should focus on? 

A: You will find that each lesson in the book lists targeted strengths. As you peruse the book, make a mental note: “What strengths does my daughter already have?” “What areas need more support?” Trust your instincts. Choose activities that meet your daughter’s specific area of need. 

Q: Where do I start? 

A: I recommend that you start by introducing the concepts covered in Chapter 1. After you have introduced Chapter 1, it is not necessary to use the other chapters in any particular order. Choose what you feel is most needed in the moment, as your daughter presents problems to you. For example, if she comes home and complains that she has “no friends,” look for help in Chapter 5, “Building Supportive Connections with Other Girls.” If she is upset and needs to help calming her emotions, look for an activity such as the Butterfly Hug or Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) in Chapter 8, “Coping Skills and Problem-Solving Skills.” If you decide that your daughter needs help with better eating habits, Chapter 10, “Physical Self-Esteem” can assist you and your daughter in improving family health habits. 

Q: What if I am worried about my relationship with my daughter?  

A: I have dedicated an entire chapter to parent resources, Chapter 4, “Building Parent Connections.” When a child reaches adolescence, this is a new life stage for the entire family, not just your pre-teen or teen. It is inevitable that your relationship will experience many new dynamics that are normal, albeit challenging. This chapter contains many practical ideas to help you manage conflict, improve communication, understand teen behavior, and protect your daughter from harmful cultural messages. If you feel anxious about the cultural influences your daughter faces, you are wise, not paranoid. In my workshops, I tell parents that today’s culture is toxic because it pervasively reinforces norms that lead to pathology, rather than norms that lead to good mental and physical health. With new awareness and skills, you will be prepared to mediate the harmful effects of the culture and protect your daughter’s self concept. 

Q: What if my daughter gets defensive whenever I bring up “puberty”?  

A: A non-threatening way to initiate discussions between you and your daughter is to read together. That’s why Chapter 12 provides ideas for using Healthy Transitions for Girls Activities with the coming-of-age-book, Princess Academy. This Newbery Honor Book covers all the major factors or themes necessary to develop positive body image. Chapter 12 provides a chart which shows where each theme is addressed in the book, as well as a corresponding Healthy Transitions for Girls activity. Specific ideas as given for how to adapt the activities while discussing the Princess Academy characters and their dilemmas. As you read together, when you see one of these themes discussed, stop and talk with your daughter about how her own challenges are similar to the challenges faced by the characters in the book. When you discover a problem in a particular theme area, use the corresponding Healthy Transitions for Girls activities to build strength in that area. Do your best to make it fun! If you find that the discussions bring up some of your own worries and anxieties, use one of the coping skills listed in Chapter 8. These coping skills are not just for kids! It is almost inevitable that your daughter’s experiences will bring up some of your own issues since body image issues affect women of all ages. Both of you can grow together as you share the activities in this book.