Girls and the Fears of Growing Up

According to a survey conducted by the Girl Scouts of the USA organization, our girls are feeling a growing amount of anxiety regarding their futures. The survey found that fifty-four percent of girls ages five to thirteen say that the idea of becoming an adult is scary or overwhelming. For girls ages eleven to thirteen, the number feeling the same wariness about the future is sixty percent. The survey reports that one not-at-all-surprising reason for this anxiety is the presence of social media and what the survey refers to as growing up in a hyper-digital world. One remedy suggested by the Girl Scouts of the USA is a remedy that should be readily available in the church. That is, providing girls with older mentors who will walk through life with them, offering them the kind of presence and support that will not only steer them in the right direction, but facilitate the growth of resiliency. You’ve heard it said that it takes a village to raise a child. Look for kids to mentor at your church.