How to Keep Tween Girls Inspired, Empowered, and Engaged All Summer

Simple, Soulful Ideas for a Summer Full of Confidence and Connection

Tween girls are in such a beautifully unique stage—caught between childhood and their teenage years, full of questions, curiosity, and a deep desire to feel seen, accepted, and empowered. And summer? It’s the perfect time to give them the space to be creative, reflect on who they are, and build the confidence they’ll carry with them into the school year and beyond.

But real talk? It’s easy for summer to slip into endless screen time or social comparison without a little structure and intention. That’s where you come in. Whether you’re leading a girls’ group, running a camp, or spending intentional time with your daughter or mentee, these ideas will help you keep the girls in your life feeling uplifted, grounded, and inspired to be their fearless selves.

💡 Key Takeaways

• Tween girls thrive with purposeful play, creativity, and emotional connection

• Empowerment doesn’t have to be formal—small, consistent moments of support go a long way

• You don’t need to plan every second—just hold space for growth, fun, and real conversations

• Encouraging confidence, self-love, and friendships in summer sets girls up for a strong start in the fall

Create a Summer Empowerment Ritual

Choose one day a week to check in with your group or your girl. Call it Fearless Fridays, Shine Circles, or Self-Love Sundays—whatever feels fun. Use that time to reflect, journal, do an affirmation activity, or just talk about what’s going on in their world. A weekly rhythm builds consistency and something to look forward to.

Set a Confidence Challenge

Give girls a summer-long confidence challenge with small, doable acts of bravery. Examples:

• Speak up in a group

• Try something new (even if it feels awkward)

• Stand up for yourself or a friend

• Say one kind thing to yourself every day
  Track progress with a journal, sticker chart, or weekly check-in. Celebrate every small win—because they add up fast.

Mix Creativity with Reflection

Tween girls love to express—give them the space to do it in empowering ways. Try activities like:

• Making vision boards for how they want to feel this summer

• Decorating affirmation cards or confidence crowns

• Journaling with fun prompts like “What makes me one of a kind?” or “What do I want to be known for?”
  These moments help girls process their emotions, celebrate their strengths, and dream big.

Create Opportunities for Real Talk

Tween girls are so ready for meaningful conversations—but only when they feel safe. Use open-ended questions and let them lead the way. A few prompts to try:

• “What does a real friend look like to you?”

• “Have you ever felt left out? What helped?”

• “What’s something you wish adults understood?”
  The goal isn’t to solve everything. It’s to listen, validate, and build trust.

Incorporate Acts of Kindness

Empowerment grows when girls realize they can make a difference. Try small kindness challenges like:

• Leave a kind note for someone in your group

• Compliment three people in one day

• Create a kindness rock and leave it in a public place
  These simple acts build self-worth and strengthen the group’s sense of connection.

Celebrate Every Girl’s Uniqueness

Create moments where girls get to shine just as they are. Try a “You Matter” wall, a group awards ceremony with personalized affirmations, or a showcase of talents, dreams, and strengths. The more girls are celebrated for who they really are, the more empowered they feel.

Use a Ready-to-Go Kit to Make It Easy

You don’t have to create everything from scratch. The Summer Workshop Kit: 4 Confidence-Boosting Workshops to Help Girls Shine All Summer Long is packed with powerful activities, reflection prompts, group games, and printables designed to keep tween girls inspired, engaged, and deeply supported all summer long. Whether you lead weekly sessions, run a camp, or want to sprinkle empowerment into everyday life, this kit makes it simple, meaningful, and fun.

You’re creating something special—whether it’s one circle, one conversation, or one journal page at a time. The impact you’re making this summer will stay with your girls long after the season ends. Let me know how your group is growing—I’m cheering you on every step of the way!

-Kate