I want to be like you, Mummy #GirlsAreAmazing

I have been asked by the Girl Talk Magazine to talk about something that is very, very close to my heart…

The aspirations and worries of younger girls, aged 7 and above.

Chatterbox is eight now; which I still find hard to believe…but when I am tucking her in at night, and she talks to me about her day, and her favourite things from the last 24 hours, I can’t help but think how much she is growing up. That worries me; mainly because I am her mum, but also because I know how tough growing up can be for us girls.

The recent survey carried out by Girls Talk, showed that only 20% of girls wanted to be referred to as “clever”, “strong” or “brave,” with the remaining preferring “pretty”, “kind” and “funny.” It is to this backdrop that the magazine have launched their campaign to promote positive female role models and broaden ambitions in young girls. Let’s encourage our kids beyond that 15 minutes of fame that the reality TV generation seems to have bred, and develop aspirations beyond popstars and “it” girls. Girl Talk, in partnership with us parents, is hoping to encourage our girls to aspire to be anything they want to be; from Artic explorers to famous authors….

This evening, my conversation with my little girl took a different turn. We have been discussing the GIrl Talk magazine earlier in the day, and she had obviously been thinking about it…

“Mummy, I have decided what I want to be…

OK sweetheart – what would you like to be?

I’d like to be an Olympic gymnast and an Author / illustrator

Why both?

When I get too old to be a gymnast I can write books. And it is hard to get in to as well, so it might be good to have another choice..I’d like to be like Beth Tweddle…

What like in Dancing on Ice?

No winning, mummy, don’t be silly, winning at the Olympics. She didn’t get a medal in Dancing on Ice.”

I think my daughter has the right idea already. I asked her earlier how she would describe herself; without any pre-conceived ideas, and without trying to put words in her mouth, she said…

[pullquote]Cheeky

Happy

Imaginative[/pullquote]

And what does she WANT to be…

[pullquote]Magic[/pullquote]

Not Harry Potter magic, but the The Ogre Downstairs magic, a book by Dianna Wynne Jones that I can’t recommend enough for boys and girls of her age, where a family going through tough times seem to find their way with the aid of a rather magical chemistry set. She likes science too and wants to be able to…

“Do magic with science”

When I asked her which celebrity she wanted to be like, she didn’t know who. Later that evening, her aspirations suggested that Beth Tweddle would be a great bet. She is in the school gymnastics team, so that’s a great start, right there :-D

So who WAS her female role model?

Not true, and we didn’t pay her to say that, but wonderful that she wants to be like me nonetheless.

Not sure she wants my memory though…she does, after all, call me Princess Forgetti because of it.

How can you get involved?

Girl Talk would like you to help out as much as possible – so what can you do?

• Go to a newsagent or supermarket and take part in the #GirlsAreAmazing challenge within the magazine this time all you need to do it use a vid or write something special to express yourself.
• Let them know what YOU do which makes you amazing
• Is there someone out there that you think is amazing?
• What would you like to be when you grow up – or who would you like to be like and why – go on BE AMAZING!
• Let hello@girltalkmagazine.com know as soon as you can :-D

Please support the #GirlsAreAmazing campaign and encourage our girls to aspire to greatness and think beyond those traditional feminine careers in acting, and showbiz to scientists, authors and athletes. Our girls can do so much more; they really are awesome! Check out the hashtag on Twitter and join in the conversation. Follow Girl Talk magazine for more information as well.

Note: We ere provided with some goodies and a subscription to Girls Talk to help promote this campaign. However, it is a VERY important thing and we are happy to help. This post also contains an affiliate link.

Helen

Helen is a mum to two, social media consultant, and website editor; and this site is (we think) the only Social Enterprise parenting magazine!Since giving up being a business analyst when juggling travel, work and kids proved too complicated, she founded KiddyCharts so she could be with her kids, and use those grey cells at the same time.KiddyCharts has reach of over 1.1million across social and the site. The blog works with big family brands (including travel) to help promote their services, as well as offering free resources to parents of kids under 10.It gives 51%+ profits to Reverence for Life, who fund a number of important initiatives in Africa, including bringing running water and basic equipment to a school in Tanzania.Helen has worked as a digital marketing consultant (IDM qualified) with various organisations, including Channel Mum, Truprint, Talk to Mums, and Micro Scooters. She loves to be creative in the brand campaigns she works on.Get in touch TODAY!

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