As a teacher- and even more than that- as an adult truly concerned about the state of our young people, I tend to be concerned about the entire well-being of a child. I have an especially deep concern for young girls who suffer from self-esteem issues- having been one of those myself once. In today's society, so much emphasis is placed on superficial things- having the latest gadgets, or clothes. This is especially true for young girls. Body image, hair types, being liked by peers- all these things weigh heavy on mostly every young girl's mind at one time or another. And as most girls can attest, we are our own worst critic most of the time.
So when I came across the article "What Makes You Beautiful" by Elizabeth Winchester, it was like a breath of fresh air. The article speaks about a program called "Beautiful Me" , which was created by the Hance Family Foundation with the goal of helping young girls improve their own self esteem as well as helping to improve that of other girls. The girls that participate are encouraged to begin to see those things that make them different from everyone else as an asset that makes them unique, not as a hindrance.
The organizers of the program go around to different schools and community groups and instruct teachers and small groups how to present the program to small groups of girls. The programs provides hands-on activities and in-depth discussions regarding problem solving, building friendships, and understanding their own feelings.
I really hope to get the opportunity to implement this program at any school I'm working at (as I'm not in a classroom currently). If anyone has experiences with this program or any like it, I'd love to hear about it!!
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