Exploring the self-esteem of girl tweens

The middle school years are tough for many kids — they’re usually entering a larger school, they’re hitting puberty and they are learning to be more independent. For girls, this tween and teen period can be especially treacherous for their self-esteem.

Randi Shafton, co-founder of Girl 360, says studies show that a girls’ self-esteem peaks when they are 9 years old, and then takes a nose dive. The idea behind Girl 360 is to empower girls and by teaching them to learn to look beyond physical beauty for self-validation. Randi Shafton spoke with KALW's Holly Kernan, and says parents -- especially moms -- play a powerful role in shaping their concept of womanhood.