Puberty and body image
Body changes during adolescence are completely normal, but parents should be aware that for a teenager, it can make it more difficult to participate in physical activities, says Geneviève Leduc, senior program advisor at Fillactive, an organization whose mission is to get teenage girls active. Breasts that are uncomfortable, sanitary napkins that might show, leaks, sweating, body hair… Not to mention menstrual cramps and lack of energy.
Solutions
The first thing, as a parent, is to not focus on appearance and to be careful with the words you use. “In fact, let’s not talk about people’s bodies,” summarizes Geneviève Leduc. For breasts that move and periods that cause concern, here are two concrete tips: buy a good sports bra and prepare a menstruation kit (different protection options, spare underwear and leggings, wet wipes, etc.). Good to know: physical activity helps alleviate menstrual symptoms, both physical and emotional.
Time
This time barrier has two components: the time that is lacking to do physical activity and the time that girls have (or do not have) after playing sports. “Every girl is different,” emphasizes Geneviève Leduc, “but some of them will find 56 reasons not to participate in physical activity if they know they will return to class all sweaty.”
Solutions
Again, wet wipes and deodorant in the school bag can make a difference. Parents can also suggest (kindly) to the school team that they offer this transition period to freshen up. Now, for families struggling to find time, it’s worth deconstructing the idea we have of physical activity. “Organized sport is just a way of being active,” says M.me Leduc. There is active transportation, family outings to the basketball court, outdoor walks, dancing in the living room…
Finding yourself “pocket”
The feeling of incompetence is a major barrier. As soon as they start school, girls already perceive themselves as less good than boys! This belief becomes entrenched over the years, and the vicious circle of inactivity sets in. Girls end up lacking skills… and confidence.
Solutions
“From early childhood, we must be careful about gender stereotypes and expose our little girls to a variety of activities,” advises Geneviève Leduc. Girls tend to judge themselves harshly. As a parent, instead of commenting on the number of goals or the quality of a somersault, why not talk to her about the pleasure she got from the activity? Parents also have every advantage in showing themselves to be vulnerable, according to M.me Leduc: “So try climbing even if you’re scared, or badminton even if you hit butter four times out of five!”
Offer
It’s a fact: team and ball sports are overrepresented in the sports offering. Some girls thrive on competition (and that’s a good thing!), but others don’t recognize themselves in this model. “In fact, the number one reason given by girls who drop out of organized sports when they move on to secondary school is competition,” says Geneviève Leduc. What’s more, places on school sports teams are often limited.
Solutions
Parents, open your blinders and try to expose your teenage girls to other types of activities, such as those that are more individual or have an artistic component. “Surveys regularly show us that girls like activities that follow trends,” emphasizes Geneviève Leduc. On social networks, CrossFit and dance are all the rage. Why not try one or the other? Sometimes girls give up an activity they love because of performance anxiety. It is sometimes possible to register your child for the recreational component, but not for competitions—and that is okay.
Motivation
Sometimes, our teenage girls simply seem “unmotivated” or even “lazy,” an adjective that irritates Geneviève Leduc. When a girl is “unmotivated,” it can mean many things: she didn’t feel good when she did the physical activity, she felt inadequate, she wasn’t comfortable, she didn’t have fun…
Solutions
The idea is simply to ensure that your daughter has a positive experience… and one that will make her want to do it again. There are sources of motivation that we should stay away from, says Geneviève Leduc, who is obviously thinking of this pressure to meet standards of beauty and thinness. In this regard, a little cleaning of the accounts followed on social networks can do a lot of good. Fillactive focuses on two aspects to increase motivation: pleasure… and friends. “When possible, offer to invite your daughter to the activity,” advises Mme Leduc.
You don’t have to be a champion to have fun
Editions of Man
264 pages