Hope for Moms and Pre-Teen Girls
In the United States alone, there are more than 11 million pre-teen girls who are between the ages 9 through 13. Girls face a special challenge in society. Girls are hurt by emotional abuse and can develop a lasting cycle of feeling depressed, anxious, or fearful.
This leads to low self-esteem and inappropriate or troubled relationships. Girls become mothers who may lack trust in others and teach their own children not to trust others. Since girls and women are experts in relationships, what happens to their children? A cycle of violence forms.
Consider child abuse and bullying. Child abuse is the direct result of a lack of respect for the dignity and potential of children. Statistics show that almost 80% of child abuse is caused by parents or family members. Pre-teen girls are verbally and emotionally challenged at school. Leading statistics show that nearly 160,000 children stay home every day because of bullying.
What is one of the causes to the mistreatment of girls? Have you considered how stories build negative thoughts and beliefs about the value of girls? Think about all the pre-teen books about boys or men who use power to hurt others.
Even some of the leading adventure stories contain violence. Boys act as warriors and treat girls as victims. These stories abuse the real value of children and affect their thinking.
Preventing abuse depends on developing well-being. Well-being is treating everyone with respect and dignity. Prevent Child Abuse America says that well-being occurs at personal, family and community levels. Two key ingredients to personal well-being include hope and optimism. These traits help prevent abuse.
So, read hope-filled stories show how girls make a significant difference for good. When you treasure girls, their self-esteem grows. Family and society become stronger and more loving.
How do parents make a safe environment for pre-teen children? Discover and read meaningful adventure stories that value the contribution of girls and women. Find books with a hope-filled story about pre-teen girls and boys.
For example, consider The Rainbow Chronicles: A Bedtime Story for a New Day. The book tells the story of Wilby, an eleven year old girl with a spiritual mission. She must find and return the Rainbow's End stolen from her land and restore its fortune.
As she walks through Neer'stazone, Wilby discovers a world of uniformity that dominates people. Everyone and everything must be alike. Flowers are manipulated. The color purple is banned. Wilby encounters other boys and girls, men and women who are trapped by this thinking.
Her courage and presence begin life-transforming events for children, families and the people of Eregon and Neer'stazone. Her self-determination results in a surprise ending. Enemies are forgiven, the land is reconciled and people are reunited in peace and love.
Hope and optimism win out. In stories, children like Wilby and her friends help pre-teen girls imagine how they can make life better for everyone.
The girls of today become the mothers, business and civic leaders of tomorrow. To break the cycle of violence and improve lives of pre-teen girls and boys, tell stories of hope and optimism. Family books with positive messages like The Rainbow Chronicles provide parents with a place to start.
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