Today's Family Girl Scouts 2019 by Today's Transitions

Mother and daughter Anjali Chadha and Vidya Richandran

(See more on p. 6)

FALL 2019

Fall 2019 / TodaysWomanNow.com

Recent duPont Manual graduate Anjali Chadha teaches participants of Empowered how to code.

GIRLS F L VE SCIENCE, TOO

By Quinn Fitzgerald Photos by Melissa Donald

rom a young age, 18-year-old Anjali Chadha fell in love with science. So, like most kids, she followed that passion. Unlike most children, however, Anjali turned her love for science into an entrepreneurial journey. When she was only a freshman in high school, Anjali created the nonprofit organization Empowered, of which she is now the CEO, for minority high school girls to learn technical skills while being connected with minority women entrepreneurs in their community. “This is something that has shown me that in our city, there are institutions and schools and organizations that do a really good job to bridge the gender gap, but most organizations, not just in our city but also throughout the county, are not like that,” Anjali says. “We should look at the ones who do a good job and try to spread those models.” Anjali isn’t the only one who has noticed the gap. Research PAGE 4 >> Today’s Family / Fall 2019

DID YOU KNOW? WOMEN FILL ONLY 25 PERCENT OF COMPUTER SCIENCE JOBS. BACK IN 1990, WOMEN REPRESENTED 32 PERCENT OF THE COMPUTER SCIENCE WORKFORCE. THE NUMBER OF WOMEN IN COMPUTING HAS DECREASED EVEN THOUGH THE NUMBER OF COMPUTING JOBS HAS INCREASED.

Fall 2019 / TodaysWomanNow.com

<< PAGE 3 shows that the gender gap in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) is not only real, but that there’s a pattern. According to the National Science Foundation, the gap begins to widen in higher education and continues as women are underrepresented in the science and engineering workforce. The solution? To expose kids, especially girls, to STEM early on in their education. DuPont Manual High School, Anjali’s alma mater, runs a Math Science Technology (MST) program that’s designed to prepare students for STEM-related fields in any academic program at any college they choose to attend. Students apply their freshman year and, if accepted, are required to participate in the program for at least three years. Vicki Lete, assistant principal, says with the plethora of rigorous STEM classes, kids are “exposed to college-like classes so that when they come through our program and go to another school, they’re going to perform really well because they’ve been exposed to such high rigor.” In addition to the courses available, students at Manual are able to participate in competitions like Science Olympiad, both regional and local science fairs, and more. One particular club at duPont Manual, Women in Science and Engineering (WISE), ensures more girls are participating in STEM. This past school year, 40 girls joined the club, which partners with Bowen Elementary for the annual WISE Expo, where fifth graders can learn about STEM topics through various fun activities like an elephant toothpaste demonstration and a building activity with marshmallows, frosting, and toothpicks. “It’s making sure girls have an opportunity for STEM, and we support kids in that program,” Vicki says. Across the river in New Albany, Indiana, Prosser Career Education Center — the largest career education center in the state — has been providing students a different route for studying STEM. Prosser allows students from multiple schools to learn STEM through handson courses. Schools are able to save money on equipment and teachers by having the students

travel to this one location. “We continue to fight the stigma as far as what career technical education does and what it provides for individuals,” says Principal Nancy Campbell. “Our goal is to give kids the opportunity to be successful after high school.” New Albany High School is one of the 22 participating schools who sends its juniors and seniors to Prosser Career Education Center. Prosser Counselor Jessy Spainhour says, “It is important to keep it going because it’s a need and in demand for future jobs. Not all kids have the same path. We are mindful that to be successful, not all jobs require a four-year degree.” While bridging the gender gap in STEM is a big goal, Prosser is also working to change gender roles, for both sides, when it comes to career choice. By exposing girls, and boys, to “nontraditional” work like welding or nursing, Nancy says, “we’re making progress.” This progress, she says, is made by reaching out to children and parents early on so they can understand that a career in STEM is an option. It’s something Nancy realized a couple of years ago through her own daughter after attending Paint it Pink Day — an event hosted by Prosser in which girls in elementary and middle schools explore nontraditional careers. “On the way home in the car she said, ‘You know, Mom, I never really thought about it, but I could be in welding or building houses,’ and before that experience she was dead set that she was going to go into education.” “Those are the types of things we hope to do: to at least open their minds to it,” Nancy says. For Anjali, learning about STEM is a way to understand the different areas of knowledge that explain life and human existence as a way to “contextualize what is our place in this world.” “I think what’s de-emphasized about STEM is how creative it can be,” Anjali says. “It’s really a matter of learning skills and figuring out how to apply them, and that’s something I believe anybody can do.” For more about Anjali, see next page.

Today’s Family / Fall 2019

EMPOWERING YOUTH By Quinn Fitzgerald Photos by Melissa Donald

oogle “Anjali Chadha” and you’ll get a page of results about a successful entrepreneur who’s built an impressive list of achievements. Click on any of those results, and you’ll see why “impressive” is an understatement.

Anjali Chadha, founder and CEO of Empowered.

Fall 2019 / TodaysWomanNow.com

At only 18 years old, Anjali has become the example of hard work, creativity, and self-driven success for today’s youth. A Louisville native, Anjali is the founder and CEO of Empowered, a nonprofit organization created to help minority high school girls learn technical skills and connect with minority female entrepreneurs in their community. Anjali says she chose to help other girls who felt the same insecurities she has felt as a minority girl herself. “I could see that I had all the advantages that most minority girls lack, and even still, I felt unconfident, anxious, and fearful all the time,” she says. “I wanted to help minimize the negativity that minority girls face in their day-to-day lives regarding their abilities and potential in STEM fields when compared to their male and white counterparts.” The 18-year-old attributes her love for STEM to her upbringing and schooling. She attended duPont Manual High School, where kids are encouraged to study STEM on a regular basis in a number of ways. Through the school’s science fairs, Anjali earned such recognition that she was featured in a documentary, Science Fair, at the Sundance Film Festival. National Geographic then picked up the film, which is now part of their documentary films collection. At home, Anjali grew up with both parents working in the STEM field. Anjali’s mother, Vidya Richandran, is the cofounder of GlowTouch Technologies — a customer support and software development company. Her father, Vikram Chadha, also co-founder and managing director of GlowTouch, is the co-founder of Backupify — a cloud-to-cloud backup and recovery

Like Mother, like Daughter After interviewing 18-year-old entrepreneur Anjali Chadha, we decided to talk to her solution for SaaS applications, including mother, Vidya Rivichandran, who is also a self-starter. On top of raising two girls, Vidya is the Google Apps, Office 365, and Salesforce. co-founder of GlowTouch Technologies, a customer support and software development Growing up around philanthropists and company that provides personalized businesses with outsourcing solutions. entrepreneurs, it’s no wonder how Anjali How did GlowTouch Technologies come to be? found her taste for business. She says her Vidya: When I started 17 years ago, I honestly had no idea what to expect. I didn’t really parents have each taught her different have any specific thoughts of the size or scale of the company. I just really wanted to lessons. “My dad [has taught me] to always be start something. I’ve always been entrepreneurial. My primary goal was to have more open-minded, curious, and a lifelong learner. flexibility in my life. I was working My mom [has taught me] to be persistent, in the corporate environment and I believe in my mission, and put forth 110 was gone a lot, working long hours. percent effort to make it happen,” Anjali says. “I definitely owe a lot of the success I’ve To whom do you attribute had with different opportunities to my your love for philanthropy and parents, who have contributed their time, entrepreneurship? feedback, and moral support throughout Vidya: I completely attribute it to the years.” my parents. They’re very successful Anjali says the greatest aspect of her entrepreneurs. It’s always been, for family’s work is that it’s consistently them, others before self. Always. mission-driven. Whatever her parents Sometimes even at their own undertake, she says, begins by considering expense. It’s always been important who will be affected and how can they help to them to make sure the people those people. “They do not quit until around you, the people they have achieved the vision that “I WANTED who work with you, the they set out to realize,” Anjali TO HELP MINIMIZE community you live in, says. “They’ve truly taught me THE NEGATIVITY that we give back. I’ve to focus on maximizing impact grown up in a home THAT MINORITY GIRLS and being purpose-oriented in where we were always FACE. . . REGARDING any task.” talking about what we THEIR POTENTIAL When Anjali needed a place to can do. It’s the same kind run the actual training program IN STEM FIELDS...” of environment we’ve tried for her nonprofit, her parents Anjali Chadha hard to raise my kids. decided she could use space at Vidya Rivichandran, GlowTouch. What goals do you have co-founder of GlowTouch Technologies Everything else, Vidya says, Anjali has for your company? done herself. Vidya says her daughter makes Vidya: We are in the middle of an active growth phase right now. We have a number of the adults look like chumps sometimes. initiatives we’re working on. One is to grow the company through acquisition, so we’re looking “She works harder than any person I know. at different companies in parts of the world that would be good targets for us to acquire. We’re Nothing she’s done or achieved was given also in the phase of organic growth. The goal for us is to be able to significantly scale up to her,” Vidya says. “She’s so dedicated. It’s the company and grow the company within the next three to five years. incredibly motivating. I learn a lot from her in terms of how much she’s willing to commit to What advice do you have for parents when it comes to letting their children pick something and keep working at it.” their passions and interests? Outside of STEM, Anjali loves to read and Vidya: The one thing I see a lot of kids do, and a lot of parents making their kids do dance. She has been an Indian classical or asking them to do, is to do things that are resume fillers. They want them to say, dancer for 12 years and plans to pursue ‘OK, I went and volunteered for two weeks’ and then write about it in their college Bharatanatyam, a major form of Indian applications. They want them to do these things that they think a student should be classical dance, at least as a hobby in doing in order for them to get into a good college or to get a good scholarship. The one the future.” thing I have learned from Anjali, quite honestly, is that’s a very terrible idea. The things Anjali started college this fall, studying that are coming from her that she’s has made a commitment to doing, she’s done bioengineering at The Massachusetts Institute significantly better and with more joy than the things that I have told her might be good of Technology. for her to try. With Empowered (Anjali’s nonprofit), I don’t have to tell her to go do it. At “I’m really looking forward to being in the end of the day, colleges are exceptional at picking out the things that kids are selfBoston. From a very young age, it’s been driven toward versus the things their parents probably forced them to do. my favorite city, and I’ve always known I What aspect of Anjali are you most proud of? wanted to live there one day. I’ll be exploring the food, art scene, and events as much as Vidya: As a parent, it’s always easier to look at the things that still need to be done, possible,” she says. and you lose context of what she has already done. Every time she goes up in front of her students or in front of an audience, that’s when it really hits home for me how much she has done and how different she is than a lot of her peers. It’s been incredible, and I feel very blessed. She’s so gifted and she works so hard. It’s really quite amazing to see her mature and grow. Today’s Family / Fall 2019

5 This Mother Wants Your Daughter to Succeed Hermina Waddell-Roberts is excited about the experiences her 12-year-old daughter Mia has had as a Girl Scout. As a troop leader herself, she is eager to expose more girls to everything the organization has to offer. Hermina and Mia became interested in the organization when they attended a back-to-school event at Lincoln Elementary Performing Arts School during Mia’s first grade year. At the event, Hermina met a mom who wanted to start a Girl Scout troop. “I thought this might be kind of fun. I was a brownie as a kid, and Mia seemed interested. We didn’t know anybody, and I thought this could be a nice way to get to know some people at the school,” she says. Hermina’s love for volunteerism and kids led her to becoming a multi-level troop leader. Currently, she and another mom are managing a troop of 11 girls but have had up to 23. The troop includes girls of all ages from grades three through nine. Hermina says she gets satisfaction from watching the girls expand their knowledge beyond what is familiar to them. “We have created World Thinking Day, which allows

us to partner with Girl Scouts globally and become pen pals with them. We learn about Girl Scouts from different countries so that our girls understand that Girl Scouts is bigger than what they see here,” she says. Mia, who has been a Girl Scout since the first grade, says being a Girl Scout has been an enlightening experience for her. “It has helped open my mind. Girl Scouts gives me more opportunities to go camping and meet new people who I wouldn’t have met if I weren’t in Girl Scouts,” she says. Being in Girl Scouts, Hermina says, is particularly important for girls of color because they need to have the exposure and representation. In Hermina’s troop, where the majority of members are girls of color, she strives to give them varied experiences. “They need to understand that there are so many things out there for them to participate in and so I try my best to make sure we participate in everything. If they show an interest, we’re doing it,” she says. (At right) Hermina Waddell-Roberts and daughter Mia, 12 PROMOTION

Fall 2019 / TodaysWomanNow.com

Photo by Melissa Donald

By Tiffany White Photo by Quinn Fitzgerald

he Girl Scouts of Kentuckiana has become a strong force in helping girls and young women reach their full potential, but its mission goes deeper than some may realize. Jeanine Triplett, chief development officer of the Girl Scouts of Kentuckiana, says the organization has developed extensive programs that foster leadership, innovation, entrepreneurship, and creativity.

BAKING ISN’T ON THE ITINERARY. “Camping has always been a huge part of

SELLING GIRL SCOUT COOKIES GIVES TROOPS AN INTRODUCTION INTO ENTREPRENEURSHIP. When a troop sells cookies, the money they earn

the culture of the Girl Scouts, but the perception is that when you join the Girl Scouts, the troops make cupcakes and do crafts, which was the case when I was a Brownie, but this has changed,” Jeanine says. Aside from learning about the basics of camping, Girl Scouts participate in swimming, canoeing, team-building activities, paddleboarding, sailing, hiking, and ropes courses.

is used to pay for the troop’s expenses, which can include a trip or other type of group activity. “A huge part of the Girl Scout experience is learning to be independent and to learn to be an entrepreneur, so they manage their troops. They plan the money they need to manage their troop and we give them the opportunity to sell cookies. They don’t have to sell cookies, but if they choose to sell cookies, it is a really good way to raise money for their troop. They can take that money and do the things they want to do,” she says.

THE GIRL SCOUTS OF KENTUCKIANA GIVES MEMBERS AN IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE IN THE ARTS. The Festival of the Arts — a collaboration between the Girl

Scouts of Kentuckiana and local arts organizations — is an annual event featuring workshops, guided tours, and performances. “We host here in Louisville, and we have over 100 programs that day. More than 2,500 girls attend the festival annually. It is the best kept secret in Louisville,” she says. This year’s festival, scheduled for November 9, will mark its 47th year. Jeanine says it is important for the organization to create an interactive learning experience for the girls. Some of the featured programs this year include a dance workshop with the Louisville Ballet, a visit to Hi-Five Doughnuts, Louisville’s first woman-owned and operated doughnut shop, to learn how the sugary treats are made, and a music workshop with the Louisville Leopard Percussionists. Members can also attend a performance of Alice in Wonderland at Jeffersonville High School and other stage shows.

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IT’S NEVER TOO LATE TO JOIN THE GIRL SCOUTS. The programming is tailored for each age group, which makes joining at any stage in life easy. You also can join as an adult member, and you have the option of eventually becoming a troop leader. FINDING TIME TO BECOME A GIRL SCOUT IS SIMPLE. Flexibility is another

benefit of becoming a Girl Scout. If your child is involved in other extracurricular activities, she has the freedom to decide how much time she wants to devote to girl scouting. “Most girls have troops, but we even have girls who don’t have troops but can still be a part of the Girl Scouts organization and take advantage of the different programs,” Jeanine says.

Go to gskentuckiana.org

to register your child or become a volunteer. The Girl Scout membership fee is $40 excluding the price of uniforms.

She Wants to Change the World Kelly Wetherton, 18, is putting the power back into the hands of women who feel powerless. Kelly, who is a 13-year member and Girl Scout Lifetime Member, recently received the Girl Scout Gold Award — the highest award a Girl Scout can receive. Girl Scouts must devote 100 hours to creating a sustainable project. For Kelly’s project, she partnered with the Anchal Project and Yew Dell Gardens to create a platform called Empowering Women Worldwide. She created four raised flower beds where she grew marigolds and sunflowers in an underdeveloped area of Yew Dell Gardens. They dried the flowers and sent them to DyeScape, a local organization that used the flowers to create dye colors. These dyes were sent to the Anchal Project, an organization employing over 300 women in India and Louisville who have been victims of sexual and domestic abuse. The dyes were used to make textile products. “It has turned me into a much more globally-aware citizen,” Kelly says. “My ultimate goal is to pursue international business, so working with the Anchal Project really allowed me to see all of the different steps it takes to produce such an incredible product.” Kelly says being a Girl Scout contributed to her personal growth and new-found confidence. “When I first went into Girl Scouts in kindergarten, I was a lot more introverted. I wasn’t able to make friends as easily as I do now, but through Girl Scouts and the confidence it has given me, I am a changed person,” she says.

PROMOTION

Today’s Family / Fall 2019

Best Animals For Kids With Allergies: • Hypoallergenic dogs and cats (hairless cats, Tibetan Terriers, Westies, and others) • fish • birds • hamsters • reptiles — Indiana University Health

SOME BU

Pets offer children companionship and teach responsibility

By Emily Elliotte Photos by Melissa Donald

aving a furry friend in your life can mean a lot to a child, and animals such as dogs and cats can be household pets, used as therapeutic animals, and more. From inside to outside the home, pets can help in unconventional ways. When is the right time to get a pet? Waiting until your children are older has benefits for everyone — you, your children, and their pet. Dr. Arielle Corbett, a veterinarian at Jefferson Animal Hospital, recommends children be no younger than 5 or 6 years old when getting their first pet. Younger children can often be clumsy and loud, and these actions can be frightening for pets. Children younger than 5 also may not understand the word ‘no.’ Dr. Corbett says a cat may be the best fit for a household with younger children. Cats are generally more docile and can be a great starter pet.

The many benefits Pets can positively affect children’s lives in many ways. Not only do they act as a companion to your child, but they will be a friend that is always there to play. Taking care of a pet also teaches responsibility. “I think children having pets gives them an innate love for other living things,” Dr. PAGE 12 >>

Fall 2019 / TodaysWomanNow.com

Carly Allman loves her hedgehog Astro, who joined the family about 6 months ago. Carly says Astro likes to run in his squeaky wheel at 4am, especially on school days.

NNY LOVES ME Mason Hinkle pals around with his rabbit named Hershey. This beloved pet is also litterbox-trained.

Todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Family / Fall 2019

Brooklyn Birchfield has developed a bond with her spotted donkey Maple since she was born four years ago. Now Brooklyn gets to play with Maple’s baby, Summer.

Angelica Smith holds her bird Willie, a Pineapple Conure. According to Angelica’s mother, Deborah, this type of bird is one of the more trainable breeds, in terms of potty training and tricks.

<< PAGE 11 Corbett says. “It also teaches them responsibility and that how they act can affect other living things.” Learning early on what it is like to play an important role in taking care of something and understanding that others have needs can shape your child’s mindset. “Children, I think by nature, tend to be quite selfish at a young age — thinking primarily of themselves and their needs and their wants — and giving them an animal makes them think of the needs and wants of others,” Dr. Corbett says. Interacting and learning how to play well with others can be beneficial for your child’s social development. In addition, Dr. Corbett mentions that studies have shown pets can relieve stress and anxiety. Linda Laun, founder of W.A.G.S. Pet Therapy of Kentucky, says that working with animals can enhance your child’s cognitive skills. Tasks such as remembering pet information, looking for cues, giving rewards, and taking instruction are all skills your child can learn.

Animals need help, too! Providing your child with a pet can actually “do a world of good in the animals’ lives,” says Dr. Corbett, who mentions that, in many cases, younger pets are best for younger kids, because children will likely be able to match the energy of their pets and keep them active. Adults may be the primary caretaker of the pet, but often children are the ones feeding them, playing with them, and spending their day with them. This means that your child may notice subtle changes in your animal’s behavior, which can be key in the vet’s office. Dr. Corbett says that, many times, the children are the one’s answering questions about the pet and its recent behavior in the appointment.

Fall 2019 / TodaysWomanNow.com

Special Needs for Special Situations W.A.G.S. Pet Therapy Founder Linda Laun knows firsthand how furry friends can help children. Laun has implemented programs all across Louisville that use the power of animals to aid kids. Not all pets work well as therapeutic animals, and many organizations such as W.A.G.S. have a careful process when screening the animals. Animals undergo health, obedience, and temperament testing. Then they are observed working in an environment to see if they will be the right fit as a W.A.G.S. ambassador. These animal ambassadors help children succeed in social situations and help children excel in school through various programs under W.A.G.S. Ambassadors are found in libraries, hospitals, and even rehab centers to aid children in their healing process. “We do a lot of work with children who are victims of violent crimes, to help ease their anxieties and stresses and fears when they have to go through the court system,” Laun says.

CREATE QUALITY FAMILY NIGHTS

Making sure there’s something for each family member to enjoy is definitely a key element to a fun evening. When I first started scheduling family nights, I wanted them to go well and was nervous coming up with ideas. So, to help newcomers or to inspire those who have it down, here are 5 pre-tested activities: The Classic Movie Night: Movie night is always a hit at our house. My husband and I give our son three to four appropriate choices and then let the good times roll. Gretchen laughs and says, “We have a lot of inside jokes that come from movies.” Jokes like those can keep a family bonded for years to come. The Vintage Board Gamer: “We eliminate devices and focus on each other,” says Kirsten when it comes to their board game evenings. This family of four enjoys the playfulness a good board game brings to the table.

“WE HAVE A LOT OF INSIDE JOKES THAT COME FROM MOVIES.”

By Tonilyn Hornung

The Builders Event: From an early age, my son loved “LAST NIGHT puzzles and Legos. The THE INTERNET puzzles and the Legos STOPPED WORKING SO have become more I SPENT A FEW HOURS WITH MY FAMILY. complex, but the high THEY SEEM LIKE level of family fun has GOOD PEOPLE.” remained.

here are happy dances galore occurring in our kitchen. My CoolFunnyQuotes.com The Sky’s The Limit: 5-year-old, my husband, and the dogs have joined in what looks like an epic Gene Kelly ballet. The jazz hands are waving, all because The simplest of ideas can the pizza has been officially ordered for our stay-at-home family night. become the greatest: Bubbles, Family night has become a staple at our house, and tonight the sky’s the limit coloring, baking, block mazes, as my husband and I follow my son’s creative lead. The last time imaginative play shadow puppets, outside walks, or ruled our roost, we built a massive bedroom tent and had flashlight story time. paper airplanes are great ideas for I look forward to our family nights because during the week I feel like my life younger kids or the young at heart. consists of running errands instead of living a life with the ones I love. Following my son’s unhindered creativity is a fun way to reconnect as a family. The Simple Dinner: When “We close the front door, pretend that we aren’t home, and connect on a very schedules become filled with afterbasic level,” says Gretchen Leachman, the mother of two teenage girls. Their school activities or late nights at preferred family night is having a movie night at home, and she feels strongly that an evening in is essential for keeping their family close. “We are a very work, it becomes challenging to fit active family and can go long periods without connecting. That’s why this time is in a family night. “We’ll at least all necessary.” be at dinner together and have a Kirsten Armstrong, mother to a 7-year-old son and a 10-year-old daughter, conversation. That’s an important adds board games to their family night rotation. “We talk about what sounds good part of it for us,” Kirsten remarks. and try to find something for everyone to be involved in.”

Today’s Family / Fall 2019

EXTRA HOW

SHOULD WE BE?

By Quinn Fitzgerald

hether it’s to build a resume, build friendships, learn important life lessons, or to simply have fun, extracurricular activities provide a variety of benefits for children at any age. Knowing what activity to join is one thing. Knowing when to start it is another.

Perspective of a Mom

We’ve gathered a variety of perspectives on the pros and cons.

First, I look at what interests them as individuals; for example, one loves the outdoors while the other loves sports. Next, I search online for workshops, camps, etc. that relate to the specific interest(s). Once I find something that’s being offered, I do a bit more online research on curriculum, costs, location, etc. Before “signing on the line,” I often reach out to moms who I know have children with similar interests to see if they’ve ever attended or know anything about the activity or venue. My “mom circle” is an invaluable resource!

Perspective of an Early Childhood Director

Amy Fitzgerald, Highland Presbyterian Church Nursery and Weekday School Co-Director THE RIGHT AGE In my opinion, early childhood (birth to six) is the time to avoid or highly limit extracurriculars. This is the time for self-directed play and building that foundation of confidence in the child’s own ability to control personal outcomes. If the parent feels an extracurricular is a must, limiting it to one adult-led activity, once a week is best, especially if the child attends preschool or group care, which is also adult-led. If at all possible, wait until the child is school-aged, and continue to limit it to one extracurricular at a time, taking cues from the child about what interests them and respecting their levels of engagement, frustration, and fatigue. FREE TIME It’s vital for parents to read the research and resist the urge to fill their childrens’ schedules with lessons and classes at early ages. Children need extensive periods of free play, where they are in charge of their own play, making their own decisions, communicating and collaborating with one another on their own terms, solving problems they deem important, and finding satisfaction in what they themselves can control. Ideally, children need as much time as possible to practice new skills of self-reliance and self-regulation before they are placed in an environment where choices and decisions are consistently made for them. PRECAUTIONS TO TAKE It is so tempting for adults to want to expose their children to many wonderful things, but with children, less is more. Relax. There will be time for children to do so many things; they don’t need to happen all at once. Parents must balance their goals for their child with their child’s developmental levels and temperament. Teach the child to moderate and listen to their feelings and their stress levels.

Fall 2019 / TodaysWomanNow.com

Dawn Travelstead, mom of two teenagers Samuel (14) and Jacob (19) SELECTING THE ACTIVITY

BALANCING ACT So long as grades remain high (all As and Bs), extracurricular activities can continue. Academics will always come first. WHEN TO BEGIN Around age three, we began allowing our children to participate in extracurricular activities. We were blessed with an amazing daycare for both of our boys. Their curriculum included piano, dance, Spanish, (general) music, and more from a very early age — and the boys loved it! TOO MUCH? We’ve always allowed our children to participate in multiple activities. It’s important, while doing so, to talk to them and pay attention to their moods. Do they seem like they’re having fun or do they dread going? If they’re not enjoying an activity, we impose limitations and narrow the focus.

Perspective of a High School Counselor

Brittany Eisner, Floyd Central High School Counselor WAITING TOO LONG Starting at a younger age teaches balance, social skills, work ethic, and hopefully some self-confidence. PARENT’S ROLE Encourage and offer a realistic perspective. Parents can build self-esteem but also need to be realistic with their child’s success. They are typically not the coach so they can teach respect for authority by not acting like a coach. And they can offer the funds and rides. EDUCATOR’S ROLE Educators should be encouraging students to find or create groups that are of interest to them. Not everything needs to be driven toward building a resume, and activities should bring a positive experience to each student.

Perspective of a 20-Something

Kelsey Bowling, recent graduate of Franklin College MAKING FRIENDS I was shy prior to being on teams and interacting with people. Joining the teams really opened me up to meeting new people and being comfortable having conversations with people. I found my friends in these activities. BUILDING A RESUME I think there is a lot of pressure for students to participate in multiple activities. There are so many times throughout my life that I have heard people make comments like “that’ll look good on a resume.” I think it’s just silly because there is pressure to do things that you’re not even interested in, but you do it anyway because it would look good on your resume. Too much pressure can make students do too many activities and not be 100 percent devoted to the activity they are passionate about.

Today’s Family / Fall 2019