DIVINE
  • English
    • Français
  • Fashion
  • Beauty
  • Food
  • Family
  • Health
  • Travel
  • Living
  • Reviews
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact us
  • Instagram
  • Legal
Stay Connected
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Pinterest
DIVINE
  • English
  • French
DIVINE
  • Fashion
  • Beauty
  • Food
  • Travel
  • Living
  • Family
  • Health
  • Reviews
  • Family

Navigating the Mean Girl Phase

  • March 2, 2020
  • 3 minute read
  • Caron Irwin
Total
9
Shares
9
0
0

Unfortunately, Mean Girls is not just an iconic Lindsey Lohan movie, it is a behaviour that is common among girls, and can start as young as age 3. The technical term for this behaviour is relational aggression – a form of bullying that has the goal of damaging an individual’s relationships or social experiences. We are all aware of the phrases “you can’t come to my birthday” or “you aren’t my best friend any more”. Why is this behaviour more common in young girls?

Some researchers believe that girls engage in verbal aggression verses the physical aggression that their male peers participate in because they are more socially aware and have stronger vocabularies at a young age. It is also noticed that girls seek out and rely on a tight group of friends to help them feel secure and confident; therefore, they are in more exclusive friend groups then boys. But, young children, in general, are at the height of establishing their roles and identity and this stage of development can lead to insecure feelings which can also result in children participating in this form of bullying.

The phrase sticks and stones can break my bones but names will never harm me is far from the truth. The name calling and social alienation that mean girl behaviour causes has huge impact on children. These behaviours can often go unnoticed because they most commonly occur during an unstructured time, such a recess, making it hard for teachers or care providers to be aware and intervene.  Below, are some strategies for parents on how to navigate and avoid the mean girl phase:

Be the Role Model!

Our kids are always watching us and learning from what we do. Be aware of your behaviour and how you speak about and to others. This is especially important between mothers and daughters. It is also valuable for parents to share with their children the qualities that their own friends have and how their friends make them feel good. This sharing helps children become more aware of the positive qualities that they should be looking for in the people they spend time with.

Encourage Your Child To Have Diverse Friend Groups

Having different friend groups encourages kids to have and practice different roles depending on the group they are in and multiple friend groups help children manage their feelings around difficult relationships. For example, if your child is having a difficult time with one friend group, they can rely on their other groups to help them cope, manage their difficult feelings, restore their confidence and maintain overall happiness.

Stop and Listen

If your child is involved in frenemy drama (whether they are the perpetrator or the victim), it is important for parents to realize that this is not just a phase or an issue that will blow over. Stop, and listen to your child. Give your child the skills and tools to help work through this phase, whether it is knowing how to stand up for themselves and seek out help or, if it is learning and practicing positive ways to engage and interact with others.

Mean Girls: Books about kindness

Promote Empathy and Kindness in Your Home

Make sure your children understand what empathy means and are aware of the different ways that they can show kindness to others. Children’s story books on these topics are a wonderful resource for parents for teaching these skills and qualities.

 

Total
9
Shares
Share 9
Tweet 0
Pin it 0
You May Also Like
Early Childhood Stimulation: Child colouring with colour pencils
    • Family

Providing Stimulating Learning Experiences for Your Child

  • divine.ca
  • March 21, 2023
Hoe Fresh: Preppie Clothing on Mannequins
    • Family
    • Fashion

10 Pieces from Joe Fresh to Get You Ready for Spring

  • Jill Schneiderman
  • March 19, 2023
Daycare: Child Colouring with crayons
    • Family

Making the Right Choice: Au Pair, Nanny, or Daycare for Your Child

  • divine.ca
  • March 17, 2023
Musical Instrument: Man teaching a girl the acoustic guitar
    • Family

The Benefits of Teaching Your Child to Play a Musical Instrument

  • divine.ca
  • March 16, 2023
Homemade Baby Food: Feeding a baby their baby food
    • Family
    • Food

Infant Nutrition: the Benefits of Homemade Baby Food vs. Store-Bought Options

  • divine.ca
  • March 15, 2023
Related Topics
  • Child Advice
  • Childhood Lessons
  • Empathy
  • Frenemy
  • Mean Girls
  • Parenting
  • Parenting Advice
  • Parenting Expert
  • Parenting Tips
  • Roo Parenting
Caron Irwin

Caron is a Toronto-based mother of three & the founder of Roo Parenting, where she provides parents of kids ages 0-12 with support to navigate the adventures and challenges of parenting. She holds a Master’s in Early Childhood Studies from Ryerson University and is a Certified Child Life Specialist.

Previous Article
  • Family

Why Mothers Benefit from Embracing the Modern World of Gaming

  • February 28, 2020
  • divine.ca
View Post
Next Article
Stir Fry
  • Food

Veal Stir Fry – Three Ways

  • March 2, 2020
  • divine.ca
View Post
Search
Featured Posts
  • Cake & Loaf Gatherings: Cover Art

    3 Delicious Recipes from Cake & Loaf Gatherings

    • 7 min
    View Post
  • Musical Instrument: Man teaching a girl the acoustic guitar

    The Benefits of Teaching Your Child to Play a Musical Instrument

    • 3 min
    View Post
  • Sport jacket: Man in sport jacket with book bag

    5 Ways to Upgrade Your Man’s Style with A Sport Jacket

    • 4 min
    View Post
Get in on the Fun
Top Posts
  • Black Garlic Turkey Noodles: Dish with Nick Liu in the background 1
    Healthy Black Garlic Turkey Noodles by Chef Nick Liu
    • 2 min
  • Visit Australia: Uluru 2
    3 Reasons To Visit Australia In The Summer
    • 3 min
  • 3
    Loungewear Trends From 5 Canadian Brands
    • 2 min
Stay Connected
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Pinterest
Featured Posts
  • Travel to Mexico: Guanajuato

    Amazing Destinations to Include in Your Slow Travel to Mexico

    • 3 min
    View Post
  • Hygge: Chair with a blanket and candle on a side table

    Hygge on a Budget: How to Achieve Coziness Without Breaking the Bank

    • 4 min
    View Post
  • Wedding Photographer: Bride and Groom Embracing

    Capturing Your Special Day: Why Hiring a Professional Wedding Photographer is a Must

    • 3 min
    View Post
about
DIVINE Magazine

Canada's Online Women's Magazine

DIVINE Magazine is the bilingual online destination for Canadian women. Bringing you trending features that are relevant and interesting to Canadian women, DIVINE is the place to visit for useful, practical and entertaining content.
Subscribe
Partner Network
SWAGGER Magazine, North America’s
Online Men‘s Luxury Lifestyle Magazine.Ohlala.ca, Canada’s Destination for Everything You Need to Know About Dating & Sex.
about
Stay Connected

Follow along on Instagram @DIVINEdotca

Kick your feed up a notch with the hottest beauty, style trends, recipes and more! It's not too late, follow along today and you might just catch the behind-the-scenes of our next shoot or even a contest. You can thank us later. ;) #Divinistas
Follow Us
DIVINE
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Making your life a little more DIVINE.

Copyright © 2022 Divine.ca · All Rights Reserved

Input your search keywords and press Enter.