TULSA, Okla. — If you have ever looked at a young girl today and wondered what is going on inside her head, a new national report might offer some surprising answers.
Girl Scouts of the USA recently released its latest State of the Girl 2026 report, uncovering critical insights into the real-world challenges, strengths, and daily realities facing young girls across the country.
The findings show that growing up today comes with significant hurdles. According to the report, 64% of girls ages 5 to 7 report feeling lonely, and more than half of girls struggle with body image concerns.
However, local community leaders say the data also offers a major silver lining for parents who feel like they are fighting a losing battle against technology. The study revealed that nearly 60% of girls ages 5 to 13 would actually prefer to go outside and play rather than spend time in front of a screen.
“There is this innate reassurance that comes from reading that the girls would prefer to be outside,” said Kate Columbia, Chief Mission Delivery Officer for Girl Scouts of Eastern Oklahoma. “They would prefer to be with each other… and that they don’t want to be engaging with a screen, stuck inside.”
Columbia, who is also raising a daughter of her own, noted that seeing these numbers brings tangible comfort to families navigating modern adolescence.
“As a parent myself, to a young girl, there is this worry of the amount of screens and social media, and how to pull kids away from it… it brings you back to real life, and what matters,” Columbia said.
The study also highlights the power of peer support. The report found that when a friend is present, 92% of young girls are more willing to take social risks and try new or challenging activities.
Fifteen-year-old Brooklyn Engle has been a Girl Scout for ten years and says having a supportive group of peers has made all the difference in building her personal confidence.
“My confidence level has gone up just because I’ve been able to try new things in a safe environment where it’s okay to make mistakes,” Engle said.
For Engle, having her troop by her side gave her the courage to tackle a canoe test at camp that originally felt overwhelming.
“I was really scared… but they had actually done the canoe test before, so they were in my canoe,” Engle recalled. “It just really helped encourage me to be able to try new things, and I wasn’t as nervous.”
Local Girl Scout leaders say the takeaway for parents is simple: a little real-world encouragement goes a long way. If you are trying to pull your daughter away from her phone, getting her outdoors with trusted friends is a great place to start.
To read the full national study or find out how to get involved locally, visit the Girl Scouts of Eastern Oklahoma State of the Girl 2026 Report.
