Girls Just Want to Have Likes ― How to Raise Confident Girls in the Face of Social Media Madness

Are you concerned that the daughter in your life is spending too much time living in the world of social media? Do you wish you could stop the madness that social media brings into your home? You are not alone. Girls are in the midst of a crisis of confidence and communication. They are learning valuable life lessons from mentors like the Kardashians and Instagram “stars”whose heavily edited photos and videos leave them feeling badly about themselves and second guessing their own lives. Physical and psychological changes in her adolescent brain mixed with the impact of the media, most importantly social media, has girls feeling lackluster about themselves and uncomfortable communicating in real life.

An average 12-15 year old sends over 40 texts a day, 1 in 2 teens believe they are “addicted” to their mobile device, 78% of teens check their mobile device hourly, and 77% of parents say they are concerned that their children are distracted and don’t pay attention when spending time together (Common Sense Media Report, 2016). With these statistics, parents feel powerless and paralyzed by fear that their daughters will be lacking in self esteem and the necessary communication skills to survive in the real world.

The worst part is that parents are letting their fears surrounding social media get in the way of parenting their daughters the way they intuitively know they should. Well, not anymore. In Girls Just Want to Have Likes Laurie takes families back to the basics by using real life examples and powerful communication and leadership skill lessons to help parents build a family connection and confident capable young women.

Girls Just Want to Have Likes will help parents reclaim the power in their homes away from social media, the uninvited guest, and go back to the basics of creating a stable and loving home, accepting and encouraging their daughters and gently nudging them to take risks and experience real accomplishments. Parents can step (back) into their roles as mentor and guide and stand side by side with their daughters helping them unwind and decode the different messages that social media is sending them. As this begins to take shape in the home, social Media will start to blend into the background. Allowing the things that matter most to stand front and center – your daughter!

Author, Educator, Coach & Founder, The Sparkle Society, Laurie has always enjoyed empowering others. A “go to” girl since childhood and a cheerleader at heart, she loves to help people become their best selves. Her passion is helping parents and young girls learn how to communicate and connect with themselves, each other and the outside world.

Through her Sparkle Society, she works directly with companies, schools, organizations and individuals on building confidence, leadership and digital citizenship skills. Laurie’s goal: teaching girls how to put down their digital devices and develop “in real life” communication and relationship skills. Laurie works to reach this goal through writing curriculum, speaking engagements, workshops, one-on-one guidance and leadership programs. Just as she encourages girls to do, she uses her knowledge and influence to inspire others — both online and in the real world.

A graduate of Emory University, Laurie received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology. She is the Author of the book Girls Just Want to Have Likes: How to Raise Confident Girls in the Face of Social Media Madness and the Editor of The Sparkle Report a highly acclaimed weekly report that helps parents of tweens/teens spark meaningful conversations with their children and stay informed about what is going on in todays adolescent world. Laurie received advanced certification at the Martha Beck and Girls Leadership Institutes. She is on the Board of the Westchester Children’s Museum and at Girls Leadership.

An engaged and hands-on mother of three, Laurie understands kids and connects with them both as a guide and a friend, teaching them important social and emotional skills that will serve them for a lifetime. She has been called a “modern mentor” by clients and forms natural connections early on with both parent and child.

Laurie can be found at Lauriewolk.com and email:Laurie@lauriewolk.com and Instagram, Twitter and Facebook @lauriewcoaching