Help Support Self-Esteem Programs like Girl Scouts

The Girl Scouts of the USA has a program to help young women build self-confidence.

The uniquely ME! Program also offers educational resources and hands on activities and is sponsored by the Dove Self Esteem Fund.

With a True You Workbook the program addresses such issues as not feeling attractive.

"A mom is one of the most important influences in the life of a daughter," according to program literature.

The program encourages moms to give their daughters strength and courage to feel beautiful in a world that may challenge her values by taking inventory of their own feelings of beauty.

The program is for girls ages 8-14 and is available in the U.S. and Puerto Rico.

Three activity booklets available in English and bilingual English/Spanish guide girls through simple exercises that help them understand and build self-confidence.

Created in 2002 to address the critical nationwide problem of low self-esteem among adolescent and pre-adolescent girls, the program recognizes strengths and attributes and addresses handling peer pressure, healthy eating habits, hygiene, general wellness, exercise, and identifying core values and personal interests.

A recent study by the Girl Scout Research Institute, The New Normal? What Girls Say about Healthy Living found that girls define their health in holistic terms and place equal value on emotional and physical well-being.

An adult guide is also available for Girl Scout troop leaders and adult volunteers to serve as a resource for the program.

Some tips for building self-esteem include celebrating who you are, surrounding yourself with positive people, challenging yourself to try new things, being good to your body, finding and expressing the real you, learning from your experience, and finding the humor in every day life.

"I was involved with the Girl Scout and Brownies," said volunteer Karla, age 28. "We had the volunteer badges so we would go to a lot of nursing homes."