Strong, Smart, and Bold: Empowering Girls for Life

Numerous books are available that discuss statistics on the changes young women go through between ages 8 and 14. New educational programs and new opportunities for girls in sports are just a couple of positive changes that have resulted from such titles as Reviving Ophelia and In a Different Voice. If you're wondering how to put these theories into practice, Strong, Smart, and Bold is the book you're looking for; here you'll find a wealth of specific suggestions based around "The Girls' Bill of Rights". Start with evaluating what chores your daughter is responsible for around the home--do they fall under traditional "female" responsibilities like doing the dishes, cooking, and laundry? It may be time to turn the tables and get her started on chopping wood, mowing the lawn, or computer hardware installation. One practical idea is sponsoring a "Girls Under the Hood" program for your daughter and her friends--shouldn't every driver know how to check tire pressure, change the oil, and refill the fluids? Some suggestions are more about opening up communication, and use open-ended questions like "When do you feel safe?" and "How do you feel about your looks?" There are also many opportunities for mothers to ask similar questions of themselves--do you remember what strange fashions your friends liked when you were a teen? These may be some of the most important questions in the book, as according to nationally sponsored essay contests, "99 percent of girls chose their mother as the person they admire most in their lives because of the advice they've been given by her." --Jill Lightner