By: Emma Cannon
This Menstrual Hygiene Day, we wanted to take a moment to highlight our “You Can’t Spell Menstrual Health Without Mental Health” curriculum, which debuted all the way back in 2022. This year, when dedicated volunteer and longtime supporter Dylan Zimmerman hosted an event for her Girl Scout Gold Award, we jumped in to help.
We have given the session to a variety of types of groups, catering to each with precision and care. From talking to the Women at StitchFix ERG about the intersection between perimenopause and mental health to chatting with teenagers about mental health warning signs and when to chat with their doctors, we have seen a variety of participants. Personally, though, this group of second-graders was the youngest I’d ever taught.
Teaching these girls about periods, many for the very first time, was both a daunting and exciting task. These incredible girls were able to learn about hormones, pads, tampons, reusable period products, and mental health. They had lots of questions, too. Some of my favorites:
- “Why do I have to get a period?”
- “Can boys have vaginas?”
- “When am I going to get hair down there?”
- “Do I have to wear a bra?”
- “Why do your boobs hurt?”
I loved how open, curious, and eager to learn these kids were. I left with such an incredible sense of hope for the future, knowing that kids like this feel safe and comfortable enough to ask some of those “awkward” questions. We, as adults, have the power to make these conversations normal. It starts with us.
Thank you so much to Girl Scouts Nation’s Capital for empowering so many brilliant young girls to be the changemakers our society needs.
Happy Menstrual Hygiene Day!
