Though we still have a long way to go in terms of what our young girls are exposed to in popular media, girls have way more choices for good books that address real issues than they did in the 80’s when I was busy reading the Babysitters Club and Sweet Valley High series.
I don’t remember any non-fiction books that really explained things in a non-clinical way kids can understand. Feelings, body issues, friends, peer pressure, family, boys, you name it – the non-fiction American Girl books cover it.
As the parent of an impressionable 8-year-old girl, these books are too good to be true. I can’t get them fast enough, and each new title looks better than the last. This past Christmas, I bombarded her with titles like “The Feelings Book,” “The Care and Keeping of You,” and “Sticking up for Yourself and Your Friends.” I know, it may not seem that exciting, but to most parents of girls I know, they’re a welcome change to some of the popular fluff that beckons from the bookstore shelves. Choices, choices…. “A Smart Girl’s Guide to Money,” or “A Smart Girl’s Guide to Boys”? Both please!
Though my daughter is still a bit young for some of the American Girl titles, it doesn’t stop me from adding a few more to my amazon cart each time I make a purchase. The best part is, she seems to like them, she reads them, she does the quizzes, she even ASKS ME QUESTIONS, obviously a trend I hope continues throughout adolescence. The books provide a starting point for talking to your girls about important stuff without awkwardly initiating a “how babies are made” conversation randomly in the car, or worse, in reaction to something seen on TV.
Tonight my daughter read portions of “The Feelings Book,” which proved to be fairly interactive. Packed with quizzes (what girl doesn’t love a good quiz?) and down-to-earth advice for real life situations, the book employs cognitive behavior therapy methods that enable girls to deal with unpleasant emotions by changing negative self-talk and reaching for positive thoughts. It spells out how biology and hormones can affect our feelings, especially during puberty, all in a way that young girls can understand.
The book is meant to educate young girls and give them a few simple techniques to get through difficult situations and improve overall mood. Considering the wild popularity of self-help books for adults, it’s possible we need to start a little earlier in our search for emotional intelligence. There’s no reason we shouldn’t start young with life skills the same way we do with academic and physical skills.
Click here to check out “The Feelings Book” and all the other American Girl books.
Stephanie Dula is a volunteer and grant writer with the POP Project. Her previous blog was entitled kidsmoviereviewforadults.blogspot.com.