Gender creative family P.E.I. pilot program deemed a success

Gender creative children flourish in environments where they are supported by the adults in their lives, says the PEERS Alliance. That’s why it developed a pilot program to nourish growing families called Roots & Shoots.

PEERS, in collaboration with Sierra Club P.E.I. Wild Child Program, recently announced the successful completion of their pilot project Roots & Shoots: A Supportive Space for Parents & Caregivers with Gender Creative Children under 12.

Roots & Shoots was based on the two most important parts of a plant. The roots are responsible for supporting and nurturing the shoots, so that they may blossom and grow into the most beautiful beings possible. Gender creative children flourish in environments where they are supported by the adults in their lives, rather than stifled.

Roots & Shoots brought seven Island families together for five weekly sessions throughout August and early September.

Out in nature, gender creative youth ages 7-12, the shoots, explored their identities alongside their siblings and queeridentified Wild Child staff and volunteers.

They played whistle hide and seek, learned to make fires with flint and steel and participated in facilitated discussions.

Parents or caregivers, the roots, gathered in a supportive, non-judgmental space with PEERS Alliance staff to explore and debunk the myths around gender identity, learn about 2SLGBTQ+ terms, explore resources to navigate social and institutional systems for their gender creative children and share their personal experiences with one another.

Support groups for parents and caregivers with gender creative children help foster a sense of belonging and community and reduce risk to those families, says PEERS.

“I liked meeting and connecting with other parents. It’s nice to know you’re not alone,” said one parent.

Families were grateful for “the space to be vulnerable and not judged for (their perceived) missteps as a parent to (their) trans child.”

Currently, on P.E.I., there is much work being done to improve medical and social systems for the transgender community, but there is still a long way to go. PEERS Alliance and Wild Child are excited to continue this work and expand the program to more families across the province.