Ep 12: Girls Who Say “Yes, And…”

EPISODE 12 Show Notes: Girls Who Say “Yes, And…” Quote: This is an unusual podcast….not sure we have a quote that pops out….should I search for one or let it go? The compelling research leaves no doubt about the reality that between the ages of 8 to 14, girls’ confidence levels can plummet up to 30%. Since the impact of this drop in confidence can be both profound and long lasting, it is no wonder that both parents and educators care deeply about proactively addressing this central challenge in the life of a young girl. The great news for girls and their parents is that there are proven ways to intervene at this critical juncture; ways that foster important skill sets of self-awareness, empathy, intellectual agility, collaboration and resilience. Jenny Raymond, the Executive Director of the Harnisch Foundation and founder of Funny Girls, joins host Trudy Hall for a lively conversation about teaching pre-teen girls how to think of themselves as leaders in the making. Funny Girls is a research-based curriculum designed to utilize improvisational theater games and strategies to tackle the confidence gap head on. In the process of this fun experimentation, however, far more than leadership skills are honed. As these efforts demonstrate, teaching girls improv might be the perfect, playful way to move a girl from the sidelines to center stage during a formative stage in her life. And parents can join in the fun, too. The resources you need to know about: International Coalition of Girls Schools: https://girlsschools.org/ The Confidence Code for Girls: Claire Shipman, Jillellen Riley, Katty Kay Funny Girls: https://thehf.org/funny-girls/