Every mother and father in the world who has daughters must empower them to prepare them for the world in which they will live. Society has to move forward and this is only achieved by educating both sons and daughters. Our parenthood will go a long way to helping our daughters break out of stereotypes and be the best they can be.
We want our girls to have every opportunity to become strong and successful women. How we treat them in childhood plays a huge role in their future. Find out how you can boost your daughter's confidence and empower her to be awesome!
Empower your daughter
- Give him strong female role models. Spotlight inspiring women in fiction, on screen, and in life. It is good for girls to see women triumph, even in fields that are not traditionally seen as 'feminine'.
- Encourage her to play sports. Girls who play sports are more likely to get better grades and more likely to graduate. They show higher levels of confidence and self-esteem and lower levels of depression.
- Ask for their opinion. Let your daughter know that you value her input and opinion. Ask them open-ended questions, ask what they think and why they think that, and listen appropriately to their responses.
- Let him choose what he really likes. Instead of making gender-based assumptions about what might interest you, give your daughter access to all the possibilities, from rollerblading and drumming, to soccer or whatever she wants.
- Focus on their intelligence. Take your daughter's smart brain seriously and empower it. You will have to make sure that he focuses on the aspects that he does best, maybe science and mathematics are his strength.
- Compliment him. In personal interactions, their appearance is often overemphasized. Instead of saying 'you are so pretty', compliment him on something meaningful, a behavior or value over which he has control, like his kindness, for example.
- Encourage him to take risks and be bold. Girls need to experience the thrill of trying new things, seeking adventure, and succeeding in something that scares.
- Let him say 'no'. It's important that your daughter feels empowered and has the right to say "yes" to what she does and "no" to what she doesn't want, even if it means disappointing someone.
- Be a good body positive role model. Try to focus on the things you love about yourself and share them with her. Set an example and encourage him to respect, care for, and appreciate his body.
- Avoid labeling him with bad language. Assertiveness in girls is often referred to as "bossy." If we want our daughters to take charge and show leadership skills, we must stop labeling assertive behavior as "bossy."
The world needs smart, successful and confident young women. Our fatherhood will greatly help our daughters to get out of stereotypes and be the best they can be… and their childhood will mark their adult life!