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Today, 65 percent of high school girls participate in a school sport. In addition to helping them keep fit, participation in athletics gives teen and tween girls a chance to enjoy healthy competition, make new friends, build self confidence, relieve stress and get a built-in support system.
One sport in particular, cheerleading, has seen a dramatic increase in participation across the US, with competitive cheerleading growing 46% in the last five years alone. In honor of National Cheerleading Safety Month, Varsity – the leading source for all things cheerleading – is hosting a live video and chat briefing on TheMotherhood.com, sharing advice for parents who want to encourage their daughters to get involved and participate in healthy activity.
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The Power of the Pony Tail – Encouraging Healthy, Active Girls
Mar 22, 2011 Tuesday, 1:00pm EST - Add as Favorites
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TALK HOSTS:
FEATURED GUESTS:
Category:BODY AND SOUL
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- Annabelle 12 comments
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I have a question. We as parents would like for our girls not to have to wear such overtly sexual outfits when they compete. Can girls opt to wear uniforms that don’t show their midriffs?
11 months ago
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Featured Guest- Britt Reints 11 comments
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Do any moms worry about some of the stereotypes associated with cheerleading? Just today on Twitter I heard about mean girls, bullying, "girls cheering on boys", body image and eating disorder problems. NONE of those things were part of my experience.
11 months ago
Featured Guest
Clarissa Nassar
I say BREAK the stereotypes!
11 months ago
Brandie
Very true mmmyatt! And also, mean girls exist outside of cheerleading too. I think people often look for it more in cheerleaders because of stereotypes. And yes, it does exist, but it also exists in outside of cheerleading too. {And still, I worry about it knowing that LOL!}
11 months ago
mmmyatt
I think, that of course the training for our daughters needs to start at home. I've noticed in my daughter's class that often the parents are all but encouraging mean girl behavior, if they aren't proactively teaching against it.
11 months ago
Brandie
Yes, I do worry about it, because I saw some of it with my own eyes!
11 months ago
Featured Guest
DebMomOf3
I haven't seen any of this with my 8yo, but definitely am keeping my eye out just in case.
11 months ago
Featured Guest
Britt Reints
That's what I heard a lot of on Twitter, Mmmyatt. Wonder what parents can do about that.
11 months ago
Featured Guest
Sara Patterson
I worry about it now with my 7yrold, however, I didn't experience this at all when I was a cheerleader.
11 months ago
1Chef
Seems to be those are common concerns for many!
11 months ago
mmmyatt
Frankly, it is the stereotypes like these that make me hesitant to encourage my daughters to pursue being a cheerleader...
11 months ago
Featured Guest
Felicia
Definitely a concern.
11 months ago
Featured Guest
Meghan @JaMonkey
I do and mine is YOUNG right now
11 months ago
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Sheila N
The issue of uniforms at the school level should really be black and white -- no bare midriffs and skirts of a specific length. Parents who are concerned should have their administrators check with the National Federation of State High School Associations (nfhs.org) to make sure their teams are in compliance.
11 months agoFeatured Guest
Clarissa Nassar
that is ALWAYS a tough call every year for me as a coach. I learned a great lesson from my own coach in high school--modesty CAN be mixed with fashion if you work at it. and for the parents that are concerned with the uniforms I always invite them to do a private fitting with their child so that their child isn't getting remarks from the other girls regarding {ughh your MOM is sooo old skool} and the teen can be under less pressure and just get the uniform ordered to their liking...comfortably
11 months agoBrandie
How did the parents feel about it? Wasn't there a school recently where the cheerleaders had to get special permits to wear their uniforms to school because the skirts were SO short it violated school dress codes (and I'm not talking a must tough knee dress code either - I mean, if I remember correctly, butts were barely covered. Really? Is it necessary? I was a cheerleader. I could do the moves even with my stomach and butt covered!
11 months ago1Chef
First impressions come from the uniforms and you want those impressions to be good!
11 months agoFeatured Guest
Britt Reints
Brandie - I was a dance competition coach and we had to struggle with the girls who wanted "sexy" outfits. Coaching staff said no way.
11 months agoBrandie
Not just cheerleading, but some dance competition outfits this year - looking like (very bad stereotypical) insane asylum patients. Ugh. We need to do something about this in general.
11 months agoFeatured Guest
Meghan @JaMonkey
I agree Sheila speaking up is the first step
11 months agoFeatured Guest
Britt Reints
Great question. I think the uniforms play a big role in the perceptions people have about cheerleading being bad for body image and self esteem.
11 months agoSheila N
I think it's absolutely essential that parents speak openly to their coaches at the beginning of the season about concerns. When your daughter tries out. In fact, at the school level, the rules of the National Federation of State High Schools forbid bare midriffs.
11 months agoFeatured Guest
Sara Patterson
I'm so glad you asked this. I know when I was a cheerleader our uniforms weren't as risque as they are now, but my parents still had problems with how short our skirts were, etc. I've wondered who gets the say in those decisions.
11 months agoFeatured Guest
DebMomOf3
Good question, Annabelle - and something I've wondered too. My cheerleader is still in elementary school and one thing I like about the program she cheers through is that all the girls wear bodysuits under their vests so everything's totally covered and appropriate. And in this program it's the same uniform style like that no matter how old they get. But I know it's different in high school and college cheer.
11 months agoFeatured Guest
Meghan @JaMonkey
Thats a great question, Who gets the final say in the teams uniforms
11 months ago