3 Approaches to Inspire Young Girls To Dream Big
Yes, it is a male-dominated world, but the reality is if we want to close the gender gap, one of the most important things we can do is give girls an equal opportunity to dream big and see themselves as leaders. In this article, I highlight three approaches that have been proven to inspire young girls to dream big and aspire to be leaders.
1) Encourage her to explore
Anything can be accomplished with a little encouragement and motivation. When a child is given the opportunity to explore her dreams, she will not only find what she is passionate about but also be more willing to put in the hard work necessary to make it happen. Encourage young girls to dream big by making them feel empowered and taking time for their ideas.
“Women make up a little more than a third of all STEM workers in the U.S., and the numbers are even smaller for girls and women of color.” Girls need to know that they can be anything they want to be, and not let their circumstances hold them back. Rethink the way that we talk to girls about their future, and tell them that they should pursue science or math no matter what.
Early exposure to STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) activities is one of the most effective ways for girls to develop an interest in pursuing careers in these fields. Encourage your daughter to explore her interests by taking her on field trips and exposing her to different mentors and role models.
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Another way is to make exploration and discovery a priority for them. An example would be to encourage them to explore the world around them by reading books about different countries, cultures, and languages.
Try to show them that there are no limits on what they can achieve. They will need support from adults in their lives who set high expectations of success for them.
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2) Create a supportive environment
This means that we need to stop limiting their interests and start nurturing them in theirs. It also means that we need to listen when they want to talk and not be dismissive of what they have to say. We also need to encourage them and reassure them that women can do anything and everything they set their eyes on.
When parents take time with their daughters and tell them how proud they are of their accomplishments, it helps give them the boost they need to follow their dreams against society’s terms.
A supportive environment is like surrounding yourself with people who believe in you, can give you advice when you need it, but also know when not to interfere when you’re trying something new.
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Girls need positive reinforcement from parents and teachers. When parents take time with their daughters and tell them how proud they are of their accomplishments, it helps give them the boost they need to follow their dreams against society’s terms.
3) Involve fathers
Dads are a great way to engage with young girls. They can offer both sound advice and encouragement as they work together to come up with a plan for her future. Research shows that children grow up feeling more confident when their fathers take an active role in their lives. And since girls look to their fathers as role models, it’s important for dads to be involved in their children’s lives and show them strong examples.
One study found that when fathers took part in their daughters’ school-related activities, like homework and parent-teacher conferences, girls were less likely to be depressed and had higher self-worth. Studies also show that when fathers share their faith with their children they boost their faith and confidence in themselves.
Dear fathers, encourage your daughters to dream big and work hard with the same zest with which you would inspire your sons.
It’s often said that behind every successful woman is a father who believed in her. So dear fathers, encourage your daughters to dream big and work hard with the same zest with which you would inspire your sons. Tell her that she is more capable than she may think and that she is not limited by her gender. Teach her to be more confident. You can also make it your mission to be the champion of your daughter’s dreams.
Concluding Remark
Girls are often not taught to take the initiative and put themselves out there, but rather they are taught to wait for others to give them permission. This can make it hard for them to think about their ambitions without feeling like they don’t deserve it. It is important that we teach girls that they should be able to dream big and that their accomplishments matter.
Therefore, when you are trying to inspire young girls you must remember that it is a process. It takes time and patience. It begins by recognizing how much power you as a mentor, a parent, a teacher, and a role model have in shaping the future of this generation.
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