Girls on the Run Learn To Stand Up For themselves!

Girls on the Run is a life-changing, character development program for girls in 3rd through 5th grades.  Our mission is to inspire girls to be joyful, healthy and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum which creatively integrates running.

In Amherst, we are incredibly fortunate to have two teams this Fall.  Twenty-six girls from the Wilkins School are learning all about celebrating their potential and pursuing their dreams with the help of four amazing volunteer coaches.

This week's lessons focused on helping girls develop the tools to stand up for themselves.  At Girls on the Run, we use terms such as: "I feel," "when you," "because," and "I would like for you to."  The girls practiced these phrases with their friends and teammates; sometimes by jumping up and down and shouting them out loudly.  Give elementary-aged girls the tools to express their feelings and they really get into the game!

When you start your statement with the term "I feel" you make it easier for the person to listen to what you are saying.  "When you" tells the listener the exact behavior or thing that is making you feel that way.  "Because" tells the person how their behavior makes you feel a certain way and why.  And finally, "I would like for you to" explains to the person in a respectful way what you would like them to do differently.  To all the adults out there -- let's try this in our own lives!

Next week's lessons focus on gossiping and bullying.  There will be a lot to learn there!

My favorite Girls on the Run motto:

We believe that every girl

can embrace who she is,

can define who she wants to be,

can rise to any challenge,

can change the world.

Can.