My Recent Trip and Discovering More about Today's Teen Girls

By Alicia, Founder of ChatterGirls

This past week, I had the joy of traveling across the country to celebrate my granddaughter’s birthday and her confirmation. Like many grandmothers, I was thrilled to celebrate her birthday—but I didn’t expect the trip to also give me a window into how today’s girls are growing, connecting, and communicating in such a fast-changing world. To my surprise, this trip gave me an unexpected window into the world of today's teenage girls—and I came away with insights that both surprised and encouraged me.

The Phone Paradox

Like many of you, I expected to see my granddaughter and her friends glued to their screens. What I noticed most was how phones have become both a bridge and a boundary in their social lives. When the girls weren’t together, they relied on group chats, FaceTime, and social media to stay in touch with quick text check-ins. Their phones were lifelines to connection. But what surprised and encouraged me was what happened when they were together: they put their phones down. Conversations flowed, laughter filled the room, and genuine moments of friendship emerged. It was a reminder that authentic connection still matters deeply to this generation. The technology wasn't replacing their connection but it was supporting and enhancing it with creative moments of singing, creating dance moves and sharing laughter with video acts. 

This observation reminded me that our girls are developing their own social contracts around technology. They're not passive users—they're creating boundaries and norms that work for their friendships. Our role isn't to demonize their tools but to help them navigate the balance intentionally.

The Depth Behind the Casual

I also noticed how thoughtful and aware many of these girls are. They talk openly about stress, anxiety, and needing space to “reset.” They support each other through small acts of kindness—checking in on a friend who seemed quiet, inviting someone to participate in their circle, or speaking up when they felt something wasn’t right. My granddaughter’s world is totally different than the world I grew up in or her mother. I was surprised of the level of emotional intelligence that each presented. I sense the great pressure they face to balance school, friendships, and the unspoken in their life. This generation is having conversations we never had at their age. They're more aware of their emotional landscapes and more willing to seek help. Yes, they face tremendous pressures, but they're also building resilience through connection and openness that wasn't available to us.

Watching Her Become Herself

Throughout the week, I had a front-row seat witnessing my granddaughter’s growth and it filled me with pride and hope. She has developed a distinct sense of her own style, confidently expressing who she is through her choices. I watched her navigate a relationship with her boyfriend with maturity and healthy boundaries. She showed up for her friends with genuine care and support. And perhaps most impressively, she's taken charge of her academic career, making decisions about her future with thoughtfulness and intention. This is what we hope for all our girls—that they grow into young women who know themselves, advocate for themselves, and create lives that reflect their authentic values and aspirations

The Power of Safe Spaces

It was amazing the foundational teachings of ChatterGirls come to life through my granddaughter. She has learned to create "safe spaces" throughout her life with dedicated areas for studying where she can focus, a judgment-free zone within our family where she can be completely herself, and nurturing friendships built on acceptance. I watched as she and her friends celebrated each other's differences—from music tastes to fashion choices to personality types. When one girl shared something vulnerable, the others listened with full attention and responded with empathy.

This is exactly what we strive to create in ChatterGirls programs. Seeing Emma embody these principles remind me why our work matters during those critical ages of 8 to 14. The foundation we help build—the confidence, communication skills, and sense of belonging—becomes a template they carry forward, creating safe spaces for themselves and others throughout their teenage years and beyond.

What This Means for Our Mission

My week with my granddaughter reinforced several truths about raising girls in 2025:

• They need our guidance, not our judgment, when it comes to technology. They're navigating a world we didn't grow up in, and they need us to be curious about their experiences rather than critical of their choices.

• They're hungry for authentic connections and spaces where they can be themselves without performance or pressure. Our ChatterGirls programs provide exactly this during formative years.

• They're more aware and articulate about challenges like mental health, peer pressure, and identity than any previous generation—but they still need adult support and perspective.

• They possess remarkable resilience and creativity. Our job is to nurture these qualities while providing the tools and confidence they need to navigate an increasingly complex world.

Looking Ahead

As I flew home, I felt renewed energy for the work we do at ChatterGirls. The girls we serve today are becoming teenagers and young adults rapidly due to our new world.  Although their world is totally different from mine or her mother’s. My granddaughter and her friends still find ways to define themselves, connect with others, learn new ideas, embrace new tools, allow themselves to be creative and make decisions shaping their lives. The fundamentals of growing up haven't changed—girls still need to discover who they are, build meaningful relationships, and develop the confidence to navigate life's challenges. What has changed are the tools and contexts in which this growth happens. Our role at ChatterGirls is to provide the timeless foundation while helping girls develop the skills to thrive in their contemporary world.

To the parents, guardians, caregivers, and supporters reading this: thank you for investing in our girls during those pivotal ages. The confidence and skills we help develop between 8 and 14 years of age becomes the foundation for the remarkable young women they're becoming. My granddaughter’s birthday gave me the gift of perspective and reminded me that our girls are going to be just fine, especially when we give them the support, safe spaces, and skills they need to thrive in whatever world they inherit.