We know, because we have asked thousands of girls, that:
- For girls, having at least one friend in your year group in your school is of critical importance.
- If you ask the girls in school, they will tell you that adult involvement in friendship turbulence nearly always makes things WORSE.
- Trying to find the absolute truth behind the causes of girls’ friendship turbulence is nearly always fruitless.
So, as teachers and/or parents we need to STOP:
- Thinking we can ‘fix’ girls’ friendship turbulence.
- Searching for the absolute truth when we know there are multiple versions and perceptions.
- Assuming that, because a girl is upset, someone else must have done something wrong.
- Using our ‘Justice Tools’ to investigate and trying to apportion blame.
Girls on Board works by:
- Evoking girls’ empathy so that they feel empowered, licensed and enabled to resolve their friendship issues for themselves.
- Taking a non-judgmental approach in supporting girls through guided-reflection sessions (unless bullying is happening).
- Acknowledging that girls are the world experts on their own friendship dynamics.
Girls’ empathy is evoked in a Girls on Board session (taught in PSHE) by:
- Facilitating a series of relatable discussions, scenarios, dilemmas and role plays.
- Guiding the girls to reflect on the power of having trusting and reliable friendships.
- Inviting girls to share their experiences of school, home and their online lives.
Through the Girls on Board TRAINING you will learn how to use guided reflection techniques to evoke empathy and what to do (and not do) in every situation.
Girls on Board is suitable for girls in Key Stages 2, 3, 4 and 5.