Editor “Daughters are angels sent from above to fill our hearts with unending LOVE!”
This year, International Daughters Day on September 26th 2021 is a truly special day. After all, daughters are one of the most special gifts of God isn’t it? They say that a daughter can outgrow your lap but she will never outgrow your heart.
And so let us shower our beloved little girls with all the love, blessings, nourishment & gifts that we can as they continue on their journey towards becoming independent global citizens of tomorrow. And you know the best gift you can give her? The gift of reading & imagination. The gift of dreaming & having goals. The gift to be whoever she wants to be!
Today, let us pledge to empower girls of all ages to make them capable of facing challenges, securing their rights & fulfilling their dreams. Here are some tips & tricks that can help you raise an independent young girl:
- Books!
Introduce books to her from an early age. Start with reading picture books and read-aloud books. Gradually let her explore books independently on a variety of topics. Try to include books with boy as well as girl characters. Books with an Indian touch to the plot, characters picturization are easier for kids to relate to while growing up.
Books like Zooboo’s ‘What shape would you be?’ help to impart an important message to kids about – ‘You are good and you are enough just as you are’. It embeds the learning of ‘self-appreciation’ early on in their minds.
- Strong Female role models
Expose her to as many strong female role models as possible. Narrate stories of women who have made achievements in different fields. Encourage discussions around breaking stereotypes & balancing all types of roles in life. Some women role models that you can narrate stories about:
Malala Yousifazi – activist
Kalpana Chawla – first woman of Indian origin to venture into space as an astronaut
Indra Nooyi – CEO of Pepsi Co.
Michelle Obama – Lawyer, advocate, First Lady of the United States.
Ela Bhatt – activist & founder of Self-Employed Women’s Association of India (SEWA)
Mary Kom – Indian Olympic boxer (the only female to make a six times winning record of World Amateur Boxing Championship)
Faye DSouza – Independent Journalist
- Sensitize them to gender neutrality
With the MCC adopting the gender-neutral term ‘batter’ in place of ‘batsman’, it is time for Indian parents to adopt a more gender sensitive approach in day-to-day life as well. Here are a few gender-neutral terms that you can use at home to inculcate a sense of equality in the minds of your kids from a young age:
- Synthetic instead of man-made
- Common person instead of common man
- Fire fighter instead of fireman
- Police officer instead of policeman
- Principal instead of headmaster
- Replace ‘man’ in phrases and quotes by ‘person’
To read more about gender neutral language click here.
- Awareness about world issues
Generate awareness in your kids about major issues in the world including environmental concerns, religious and political issues and especially issues faced by women like violence, basic rights violation, lack of education, gender pay-gap etc. Try to keep personal prejudice aside and encourage open discussions on these topics. Create a sense of comfort in them to let them voice their opinions without hesitation.
- Regularly ask for her opinion
Involve your daughter in making decisions right from an early age. Asking her opinion in day to day matters will build confidence in her. It will ensure that she feels valued and isn’t afraid to think, have an opinion and confidently share it too.
- Encourage her to try new things
Whether it is perceived to be ‘a boys activity’ by society or not, if your daughter wishes to try something new, different or unconventional, encourage her to do so. Support her in every way you can to move out of her comfort zone and take up new challenges. Whether it’s an unusual sport or a new adventure, she should feel courageous to follow her heart.
We hope these small cues help you in raising conscious, confident and global citizens of tomorrow. And remember, the first step towards this journey starts with inculcating a habit of reading books. So start with Zooboo books today!
