Research from Girl Scouts of the USA reveals a disconnect between what girls value in sports and parental expectations, prompting a reimagining of youth sporting activities to focus on exploration, confidence, and teamwork.
Girl Scouts of the USA says its latest research points to a clear gap between what girls want from sport and what many adults think motivates them. The survey found that most girls aged five to 13 value fun over winning, while parents are far more likely to believe that success on the scoreboard is what keeps children engaged. The organisation says the findings reinforce a wider theme from its State of the Girl 2026 report: girls thrive in spaces that offer friendship, encouragement and face-to-face connection.
According to the Girl Scouts research, 83% of girls in the age group said having fun matters more than winning. By contrast, 77% of parents said they believe winning or doing well is central to a child’s enjoyment of sport and other activities. That mismatch was even sharper when parents were asked about older girls, with expectations rising for daughters aged eight to 10 and 11 to 13.
The study also suggests that cost and time pressures are weighing heavily on families. Girl Scouts said 58% of parents described the commitment required for sports and extracurricular activities as unsustainable, particularly in households earning less than $50,000 a year. The group added that nearly one-third of girls involved in activities said they had at least sometimes wanted to quit because an adult made them feel they were not good enough, compared with 19% of parents who said their child had raised that concern.
Bonnie Barczykowski, chief executive of Girl Scouts of the USA, said girls need room to learn without feeling that everything depends on victory. The organisation is tying the research to a broader effort to reshape its sports and recreation programming, with a modernised theme due to launch in April 2027. Planned badges will cover team sports, climbing, swimming, winter sports, tabletop and video games, as well as camp and outdoor activities.
Girl Scouts said the new approach is intended to place greater emphasis on exploration, confidence and teamwork than on competition alone. That fits with the wider picture in its State of the Girl 2026 report, which describes girls as ambitious and resilient while also facing pressures ranging from loneliness to body image concerns and the pull of screens. The group says its aim is to build environments that help girls develop skills, stay engaged and keep going when activities become difficult.
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