5 Powerful Ways to Empower Our Daughters

Disclosure: Outside the Box Mom received this product in order to bring you this review. We were compensated for this post, however all opinions are my own.

I am a working mom who enjoys taking my daughter with me to “the office,” as she calls it. She’s 6, so she doesn’t fully understand what I do. But she knows it’s where I go each day after putting her on the school bus and where I return from when I pick her up in the afternoon.

I want her to know that she will have the opportunity to further her education in college and to have a career, just like I did, if she chooses. I am so thankful we live in a country where we have these choices and our lives are not mapped out for us.

She will be a tween, and God forbid, a teenager one day soon. I hope that she will be confident, brave and care about the world she lives in. Right now, she is obsessed with counting, reading and doing her homework. But I wonder what she will care about when she is older.

Will she become an entrepreneur? An advocate? A role model?

When we recently discovered the Barbie^® Secret Agent Doll, I was pleased to see that Barbie^® once again goes beyond gender stereotypes to show girls that #YouCanBeAnything.

My daughter likes to use her imagination as Barbie^® tumbles into action to help save the day. This doll features awesome moves, like flips and cartwheels, and looks super cool in a molded purple outfit with belt and boot details, a removable sparkly pink trench coat and pink shaded sunglasses.

Based on an action-adventure film, Barbie™ Spy Squad, the heroine is a world-class gymnast who is recruited to be a secret agent along with her friends Teresa and Renee. Together, they are ready for any mission and always work together as a team to succeed.

Barbie™ Spy Squad Movie

The Barbie™ Spy Squad movie and the doll promote “girl power” and teamwork at its best, and inspired me to think about other ways I can build my daughter up for future success.

Here are five ways I plan to empower my daughter, just like Barbie^® empowers girls all over the world.

1. Let Her Know She Already Has Authority and Permission

So many young girls lack the confidence to start a new hobby, try a new sport, or make a new friend. They are often waiting on someone to tell them it’s okay to do something. I would encourage you to tell your daughter and any young girls you have influence over that it’s okay to come up with an idea and give it a try. Don’t let fear or waiting for permission hold them back.

2. Show Her How to Use Skills She Already Has in New Ways

In my post Why Moms Make Great Entrepreneurs, I shared that I learn skills at work that I can apply at home like budgeting, delegating and teamwork. I also have experience as a mom that I can bring to work like being a leader, taking responsibility, multitasking and learning the most efficient way to get something done with limited resources.

Being a working mom helps me to be a better employee and a better mom. Girls can apply this, too, by participating in team sports, becoming a Girl Scout or volunteering in their community. This teaches teamwork, honor and philanthropy.

 3. Encourage Her to Always Strive to Be the Best.

Although she may not always be the best, there is nothing wrong with putting your best foot forward and giving it your all. Here are a few examples:

Homework – Homework is very important to me. When it comes to homework, I would recommend making it clear that homework must be done before leisure time. I think this is great practice for future grade levels and the real world.

Sports – Participating in team sports gives kids an opportunity to see how practice and hard work pay off, the importance of contributing to a team and learning how to be a good sport when you don’t win.

Friendship – We can teach our kids that friends remember things that are important to the friend (like birthdays), keep their work, are kind to others, help others in need and have fun times together.

I love feeling a sense of accomplishment that I have contributed toward something, whether it be completing a great project at work, mastering that skill that I never thought I would ever learn or making a client’s day.

4. Convey the Importance of Always Doing the Right Thing

Every kid lies from time to time. But that doesn’t make it right. As often as I have the opportunity, I try to turn these unfortunate events into teachable moments.

When my 6 year old daughter lies to me, I explain to her that it’s not good to tell lies and that she should always tell the truth. I ask her why she didn’t want to tell me the truth and then we talk about whatever reason she gives.

In the same vein, it’s important to develop integrity, which is often described as what you do when no one else is looking. Kids should obey the teacher even when she isn’t looking, perform their chores even if no one is going to check and pay for that extra serving even when no one saw them get it.

5. Think of Other Women as Allies and Members of the Same Team

I don’t know if it’s normal or if our society has somehow encouraged it, but so often women see other women as competition. Maybe it’s the small number of slots offered to women or maybe it’s the need to be in the spotlight.

That’s why I love organizations that encourage and promote positive values and developing useful skills. In school, extracurricular activities and team sports, and in the workplace, learning how to work effectively with coworkers. Instead of seeing them as competition, determine what you have in common and how you can achieve similar goals together.

Girls not only want to play dress up and look pretty, but they want to show off their smarts, make a difference in the world, and do things for themselves. At least, that’s what my daughter tells me!

Thank you, Barbie^® Secret Agent Doll, for being a playful reminder of this important message. The doll can be found at Walmart, Target, Amazon and Toys “R” Us.

How do you empower your daughter?