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Self-Esteem
Tips TEN
THINGS
A Dad of Daughters Can Do Today |  |
Listen
to girls:
Focus on what is important, what my daughter thinks, believes,
feels, dreams and does - rather than how she looks. I have a profound influence
on how my daughter views herself. When I value my daughter for her true self,
I give her confidence to use her talents in the world. Help
make the world better for girls:
This world does hold dangers for our
daughters. But over-protection doesn't work, and it tells my daughter that I don't
trust her and her abilities! I need to work with other parents to demand an end
to violence against females, media sexualization of girls, advertisers using anorexic-looking
models, pornography, and all "boys are more important than girls" attitudes. Initiatives
like Dads and Daughters' campaigns will help me do it. Encourage
her strength and celebrate her savvy:
Help my daughter learn to recognize,
resist and overcome barriers. Help her develop her strengths to achieve her goals.
Help her be what Girls Incorporated calls Strong, Smart and Bold! Discourage
my daughter from dieting:
Growing girls need to eat often and healthy.
Dieting increases the risk of eating disorders. Advertisers spend billions to
convince my daughter she doesn't look "right." I won't buy into it. Respect
her uniqueness:
See my daughter as a whole person, capable of anything
- and make sure she knows that's how I see her. My daughter is likely to choose
a life partner who acts like me and has my values. Treat her and those she loves
with respect. That will help my daughter choose someone who respects and nourishes
her long after she's left my home. Play
with her:
Play catch, tag, jump rope, basketball, Frisbee, hockey, soccer,
or just take walks...you name it. Help her learn all the great things her body
can do. Physically active girls are less likely to get pregnant, drop out of school,
or put up with an abusive partner. Studies show that the most physically active
girls have fathers who are active with them. Being physically active with her
is a great investment. Get
involved in my daughter's school:
Volunteer, chaperone, read to her class.
Ask tough questions, like: does the school have and use an eating disorder prevention
or body image awareness program? Does it tolerate sexual harassment of boys or
girls? Do more boys take advanced math and science classes and if so, why? (California
teacher Doug Kirkpatrick's girl students weren't interested in science, so he
changed his methods and their scores soared!) Are at least half of the student
leaders girls? Get
involved in my daughter's activities:
Volunteer to drive, coach, direct
a play, teach a class - anything! Demand equality. Texas mortgage officer and
volunteer basketball coach Dave Chapman was so appalled by the gym his 9-year-old
daughter's team had to use, he fought to open the modern "boy's" gym to the girls'
team. Dads make a difference! Take
my daughter to work with me:
Participate in every April's official Take Our Daughters to Work® Day (HTTP://www.ms.foundation.org)
and make sure my business participates. Show her how I pay the bills and manage
my money. My daughter will have a job someday, so I need to introduce her to the
world of work and finances. Join
other fathers:
Who share my commitment to daughters by becoming a member
of (or renewing my membership in) Dads
and Daughters. Encourage other fathers to join, too. Click
here or call 1-888-824-DADS to join Dads & Daughters today! Copyright
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