Demystifying the “P” Word: How to think about, talk about, and empower your daughter through Puberty

Workshop Description

Dynamo Girl is offering our first ever puberty workshop because we want to demystify girls’ early experiences in puberty. The workshop is designed to educate girls ages 8-11 and their parents about girls’ changing bodies during puberty and the physical and emotional impact that has on them.  Our goal at Dynamo Girl is to help girls and their parents approach puberty as something positive, empowering and exciting.

Our core mission at Dynamo Girl is to reverse the downward trend of girls’ participation in physical activity and to build their self-esteem. Research shows that girls’ negative experience with puberty contributes to their drop in athletic involvement during the pre-teen and teenage years.  We believe that educating girls and their parents about puberty in a supportive environment will help counteract that downward trend.

Workshop Focus

• The workshop is for girls and their parents together as well as separate sessions.
• Different stages of girls’ puberty — what to expect physically and emotionally.
• Explanation of the phenomenon that many girls areexhibiting signs of puberty up to 2 years earlier than they did two decades ago.
• Framework and tools for parents to help them empower their daughters as they approach and begin puberty.
• Tools for the girls and their parents to help manage the physical and emotional changes they are experiencing.
• Consent: how to empower your daughter to define her boundaries and respect the boundaries of others.

Dynamo Girl Faculty

The workshops will be run by Mary Pat Draddy, LMSW and Dynamo Girl Outreach Director, and Sue Steinberg, MPH and Middle and High School Health Educator at the United Nations International School.