Activities to Help a Teen Girl Express Herself

Writing

• Putting a pen to paper is sometimes the only method a teen girl has of expressing her innermost thoughts, feelings and moods. Having the ability to transcribe the inner workings of her mind onto paper gives a young girl the tools to vent, think creatively and gain self-confidence. Journal entries, poetry, storytelling and free writing are all creative expressions that can only make a young writer better at her craft and, even more importantly, better at expressing herself in a positive and creative manner.

Dance

• Dance is a graceful and interpretive method of self-expression. The movements, music and coordination all convey the mood of the young woman performing. Without the aura and depth of feeling the dancer conveys, the steps and movement would be flat and ordinary. Dance, no matter what type -- flamenco, ballet or modern -- helps a young girl express her deepest emotions and define her cultural background.

Art and Photography

• Artistic endeavors are an excellent method of self-expression. Teen girls may put their innermost thoughts on canvas through the use of paint, charcoal or chalk. Watercolors or crayon on parchment paper are also mediums of artistic expression. Photographs, either black and white or color, can convey both positive and negative emotions. According to MaryAnn F. Kohl, art educator and author, writing on the Barnes & Noble website, art helps children "work through feelings and emotions." She goes on to state that it develops creativity and that it is the process, not the end product, that is the most important to the development of youngsters.

Fashion

• Many young girls express themselves in the way they dress, accessorize or style their hair and makeup. They may take on a specific style or theme in the clothing and accessories they choose. Parents may struggle to understand the appearance of their child but, as the U.S. Department of Education's publication, "Helping Your Child Through Early Adolescence," so aptly states, "Your teenager may want to dye her hair purple and pierce most parts of her body, but these expressions may be independent of her sense of who she is and who she will become."