Greetings from Konika and Kya at Girl Power Science!

Happy New Moon!

Hope your school year is off to a smooth start. This newsletter includes a fun game to play with your daughter called “Bra-vo!” Because breast buds can begin developing in children as young as 6, this game might be relevant sooner than you think.

We had a request for a camp on Veterans Day, so we added The Confidence Code: Social-Emotional Tools to Tap Into Your Girl Power on Wednesday, November 11, from 9 am–3 pm.

The full fall menu of offerings is at the end.

Finally, I’m getting several requests to lead parent education talks at schools, so I created this new web page that is easy to share with your PTA or parent education committee. I love visiting schools and offering talks that are relevant to all genders. If you want to bring me to your school, I'd love to connect and start planning.

Presentations are complimentary for all public schools within a 2-mile radius of our location. This includes Glen Park Elementary, Sunnyside, San Francisco Community School, Miraloma, and Clarendon.

Bra-vo! A Bra Game for Ages 6 and Up

At our kids-only workshops, I love asking kids how their parents can support them at home as they navigate puberty. One thing that comes up often is that they don’t know how to tell their parents they’re ready for their first bra.

I distinctly remember trying to find the courage to ask my mom. I rehearsed the question, “When will I get a bra?” in my head over and over again. Every time the words started to come out of my mouth, my mom was busy doing something, or my brother or dad were around.

My grandma even came over saying she had found a duck egg in the backyard.

I told you I remember every detail!

When I finally asked, my mom took me to JCPenney, and it was such an embarrassing ordeal. If you’ve seen the bra-shopping scene from Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret., it was just like that. I linked the scene at the end of this newsletter.

At Girl Power Science, we like to flip the script and take the cringe out of growing up. So I recently came up with a fun new game called “Bra-vo!”

We launched it at a recent Girl and Grown-up Puberty Power workshop, and it was a hit.

We lay out a fun variety of bras and talk about the different features kids might encounter: reversible colors, patterned straps that mix and match, tank tops designed to match different skin tones, sports bras, strapless styles, and padded versus unpadded styles.

Most importantly, we normalize that it’s their body and their choice. There’s no right age to get a bra, and kids get to decide if and when they want to wear one.

My students often tell me that other kids comment on whether or not they wear a bra, or even lift their shirt or snap their bra strap. Those experiences can be incredibly uncomfortable. It’s a perfect opportunity to talk about personal space and boundaries, as well as the wide variation in the timing of puberty. Kids need to know that there is no “right” way to grow, and that everyone deserves to have their body and personal space respected.

Here’s how Bra-vo! works:

Everyone chooses one bra style they like. The grown-ups guess which style their child picked, and the child guesses which style the grown-up would choose for them.

The treehouse was filled with laughter. Everyone had a clear task and purpose, and there were no awkward moments of silence. Bravo! It worked.

I can’t wait to play it again at our upcoming Girl and Grown-up Puberty Power workshop on Saturday, September 26, from 10:30 am–12:00 pm. There are just 3 spots left, and we’d love to have you join us!

We’ll also play this game at CuriosiTea. Can’t wait!

Want to try Bra-vo! at home?

You could easily play this game yourself by visiting a store together, or even better, browsing online from the comfort of home. The goal isn’t to find the “perfect” bra. It’s simply to make the conversation about bras feel normal, comfortable, and fun. It’s the perfect gateway to naturally open up the conversation about growing up and show her that you are there for her.

One of our favorite brands is Bleuet, which makes super-soft, comfortable bras designed with tweens and teens in mind. My friend Liz, a fellow mom, runs the small business in Los Angeles, and I love that Bleuet also supports teen changemakers.

Full disclosure: I’m an affiliate, so I earn a small commission when you shop through my link. You can use my code for 15% off.

And remember: the goal isn’t the bra. The goal is making it easier to talk about growing up.

🍂 Fall at Girl Power Science

Puberty Power (3 spots left)

Saturday, September 26 from 10:30 am - 12:00 pm

$150 Includes 1 child + 1 grown-up

Period Power (4 spots left)

Saturday, October 24 from 10:30 am - 12:00 pm

$150 Includes 1 child + 1 grown-up

Pause Power (Plenty of space left)

Because you deserve a little pause, too!

Saturday, November 14 from 7:00 - 8:30 pm

$85 For 1 grown-up

What people are saying:

NEW! STEMinista Club: After-School Science

(For girls ages 8 - 12)

What if your daughter could spend an hour each week celebrating an inspiring woman in science, eating a nutritious snack, and getting her hands messy with a fun experiment?

STEMinista Club is a 6-week after-school science club for girls who are curious, creative, and love to figure out how things work.

Each week, we’ll "meet" a different STEMinista, from Eugenie Clark to Marie Tharp, learn about her story and discoveries, and then roll up our sleeves for a hands-on science experiment inspired by her work.

6 Thursdays | 4:30–5:30 p.m. | Six Session Series $225

September 24 and October 1, 8, 15, 22, 29

That’s just $37.50 per session, making this our most affordable way to join a Girl Power Science program!

Know a science-loving girl who would be a great fit? Please share this with your school’s ParentSquare, listserv, or parent community!

Veterans Day Camp

The Confidence Code:

Social-Emotional Tools to Tap Into Your Girl Power

Wednesday, November 11 • 9 am–3 pm

$240/child

Optional aftercare until 5 pm: +$45

A day of science, games, creativity, and connection designed to help kids understand their emotions, build confidence, navigate challenges, and discover their own superpowers.

Two Virtual After-School Classes (Ages 8 - 12)

Can’t make it to the Treehouse? Join us online for two fun, interactive science classes after school!

Media Mindset - Navigating the Digital World

Cost - $35

Tuesday, September 29 from 4 - 4:45 pm PST / 7 - 7:45 pm EST

Based on Harvard’s “Project Zero” curriculum, this class will cover strategies to strengthen media literacy skills using digital dilemma scenarios. Topics will include healthy digital habits, digital safety, and proactive conversations about pornography to prevent trauma.

Be your own BFF - Navigating Changing Friendships

Cost - $35

Wednesday, October 28 from 4 - 4:45 pm PST / 7 - 7:45 pm EST

The brain remodel leads to identity shifts and it makes perfect sense that friendships evolve too. In this class, we’ll learn about healthy friendships, self love, and self care. We’ll break down the science of why we compare ourselves to others and how we can harness this human trait to build confidence.

🤣 Bra Scene: "Are you there God, it's me Margaret" 🤣

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If you have any questions, email Konika here.​

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