FEELING SAFE: WHAT GIRLS SAY

Top 5 Tips for Adults: Helping Girls Cope with Feeling Unsafe

• Be proactive about asking how girls feel, even if they are reluctant to talk. Don’t assume to know what they consider important, and don’t expect them to automatically share their concerns with parents or other adults.

• Encourage working together to establish guidelines for responsible behavior. Do not judge, threaten, lecture, issue orders, or try to "teach girls a lesson" by withholding help.

• Realize that a safe location is not enough. Trusted relationships, in which girls feel valued and supported, are what make girls feel emotionally safe.

• Take emotional harm seriously. Typical environments, such as classrooms, sports fields, or group meetings often create situations that cause anxiety in girls. Hurtful teasing, gossiping and name-calling should be addressed by both adults and girls together.

• Make safety a shared goal- one girls don't have to deal with alone. For example, adults in Girl Scouting, including STUDIO 2B_sm, need to partner with girls and encourage them to share their real-life concerns.