Question for parents of teen girls

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-20-2005
Question for parents of teen girls
11
Wed, 11-08-2006 - 4:18pm

I've been asked to lead a Bible study for our teen girls. The majority of the group are 7th and 8th graders with a couple of 11th graders thrown in. I'm going to ask one of our college age girls to assist me with this.

I've been given free rein on the topic and this is where you come in. I would like to know what topics you would want taught to your DDs in a Bible study. Last year we did a series on dating and relationships so I really don't want to do that again. I'm sure this particular group of girls would love the chance to talk about boys but I want to help them to begin to realize that there is more to life than boys (I can see one of the girl's eyes rolling now).

So far the topics I've come up with include:
Body Image
Advent (plan to use a variety of art projects with this)
Women of the Bible (book called Bible B.A.B.E.S. designed for young women)
Parents (book called Stupid Parents)

Any other suggestions? I plan to present the girls on the youth council with a list of 6 or so topics for them to vote on.

Thanks for your help!

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-06-2006
Wed, 11-08-2006 - 5:49pm

Okay ... just called 15yo DD in to look at this.

First choice? Stupid Parents (I know I'm supposed to 'lolol' right here, but somehow, this doesn't seem all that funny :-) today)

She suggested a study along along the lines of 'God's Plan for You'. I have to say I'm kind of impressed that she came up with that one.

A couple years ago, one of the mega-churches in our area did an overnight study for girls on beauty. From what I understand, they did make-over type stuff but the emphasis was on 'inner beauty' and how too much 'outside' could detract from the all the beauty they each carried inside. DD didn't attend (we aren't members of that church) but one of her friends did. Sorry to say I don't know much more than that, but it sounded pretty neat to me.

Good luck with this and let us know how it goes; it sounds like fun.

 

 

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-16-1999
Wed, 11-08-2006 - 6:19pm

I asked DD 15 about this one.

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-20-2005
Wed, 11-08-2006 - 6:20pm

Thanks for your help and tell your DD thanks as well. I know that I could ask the girls in our group but then someone would get their feelings hurt if we didn't select their idea so getting outside input is a way to avoid this.

I am also planning a girl's night out soon. Last time it was included with our series on dating so boys was the focus but I like the inner beauty idea for that.

Thanks,

Lia

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-20-2005
Wed, 11-08-2006 - 6:22pm
Ask her what she considers "lame". I definitely wouldn't want to mess up. Tell her thanks for the input.
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-16-1999
Wed, 11-08-2006 - 6:46pm

Lame is "all that just say no" crap or "if all your friends jumped off the bridge..." according to DD.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-06-2006
Wed, 11-08-2006 - 6:48pm

<< I am also planning a girl's night out soon. Last time it was included with our series on dating so boys was the focus but I like the inner beauty idea for that.>>

Could I send DD out for that? The youth group DD attends consists primarily of middle school boys with a couple middle school girls who come on occassion. There are also two high school boys who attend regularly but whom are in the same mental age bracket as the middle school boys.

So far, the leaders haven't seen the need to separate the two age groups, nor boys from girls for any special lesson or study unique to their particular age and/or sex. The majority of youth group Wednesday night seems to consist of keeping the little boys from bouncing off the walls.

DD may make noises about it but so far, though, I haven't been able to convince her to visit any other groups in the area.

 

 

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-20-2005
Wed, 11-08-2006 - 6:59pm
I just switched from mid-hi to sr-hi Sunday School. Mid-hi is primarily girls and Sr-hi is primarily boys. As someone who has only raised girls, I never knew how much easier the boys can be. We had a college age female intern that was going to do to this with me sitting in as an advisor but she was let go (dating the youth director) so I'm the only female left. It's sort of mine by default. You are so right the drama is prime at this age so it will be a challenge to keep on topic.
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-20-2005
Wed, 11-08-2006 - 7:04pm

Send her on - we'd love to have her! We haven't always split the sr hi and mid hi but recently found the need to, at least sometimes. We split them for Sunday School and then again for part of the program on Sunday night. Our mid-hi is primarily all girls and our sr-hi is primarily all boys at this point. The boys get worn out with all the girls flirting with them. The girls get worn out with the boys not responding to the flirting. Plus we find that they tend to pay attention a little better when separate.

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Of course not, the ratio of boys to girls is definitely in her favor here. Why would she want to leave? (LOL) In a serious response to this, how long has she been with this group? It takes a long time to really build trust with a group. If she has this with them, she would rather put up with the guys than have to start over.

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-05-2006
Thu, 11-09-2006 - 11:45pm
I just asked my grade 8 daughter and her friends who are over about what is important to them right now and what they like to talk about. They said, how they look (hair, clothes, makeup), meeting new people(boys and girls), fitting in, and having a social life. I know they all sound superficial but hey, thats what its all about when you are this age. Perhaps you could fit this into "women of the bible" and how they did or did not fit in or how they may have felt about what went on in their lives. I don't know. Maybe it sounds corny. Well, the advice is free so what do you expect?
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-18-2003
Sun, 11-12-2006 - 7:29pm
Hi--Lurker jumping in here to say I like your topics. Especially the Women of the Bible. There are so many extraordinary women in the Bible that I think are not given enough credit. Deborah is my favorite. I heard there is a movie out in theaters now called "A Night with the King" and is supposed to be based in the book of Esther. Have not seen it though so I don't know if it is appropriate or accurately reflects the story in the Bible. Advent is a great time to introduce service projects and talk about how to make a Christian difference in the world. I think kids in general probably get tired of the same old list of "don'ts". Looking at how godly women have made a difference in the past and then talking about ways to do those same things in a contemporary world can lead to self esteem and a sense of purpose in young women. Good luck--it sounds like fun!

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