You want to tell your daughter what she needs to hear. Here are our favorite inspiring words to use
When it comes to helping your daughter become a strong woman, it’s important to offer compliments and inspiring words in a way that boosts self-esteem and confidence. Words are powerful, and when they come from a grown-up they can make a huge difference. From appreciating her creative side to how far and fast her strong legs will carry her, here are 20 ways to praise your daughter today (and every day). And here are 10 times your daughter shouldn’t have to say “I’m sorry.”
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1. Thanks for giving me a hug, I needed that. As kids grow older, they're less likely to want to snuggle up with mom or dad. When they do show affection, let them know it's as important to you as it's always been.
3. You are a good friend. Teaching kids about the power of healthy relationships is the key to raising strong adults.
4. I love how hard you worked on this project, and how you stuck with it even when you got frustrated. Focus on how they overcame the challenge and what they accomplished.
5. You make the world a better place just by being in it. And if anyone thinks otherwise, it's their loss!
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6. Don't let mean kids tell you what to think of yourself. Your self-esteem belongs to only you.
7. I'm so happy you're in my life. After all, wouldn't you want to hear that from someone you love?
8. Isn't it great that your strong legs can help you run super fast? Praising the things a little girl can do with her body instead of noticing how it looks will help her appreciate, and strive for, a healthy lifestyle.
9. I love the color combo you've got going on today, it's very creative! Nice things to say to your daughter don't have to focus on just looks. Compliment your daughter on her outfit when you focus on her creativity, rather than how pretty she looks.
10. You are a kind person. Compliments for girls that focus on kindness, courage, and honesty will go far in building self-esteem.
11. I am proud of you. Because kids need to hear this from their parents. Every. Day.
12. I’m impressed with how you solved/built/created that. Can you show me a thing or two?! Praise your daughter for her critical thinking and problem-solving prowess.
13. I think you are a great leader. One of the best things you can do for your daughter is to show her that being a leader isn’t just “being bossy.”
14. Just be yourself. It’s enough. Girls are constantly being told they aren’t enough, and it's time to break the cycle and instill confidence.
15. Your ideas are important, and I want to hear them. Kids in general, but especially girls, need to know their ideas are awesome and worth sharing.
Brittney Fort
16. Your inner beauty and kindness shine through your personality. Outer beauty is a bonus.
17. Your bright smile shows me how happy you are. Your daughter is smiling for a reason, and when you notice, it'll make her even happier.
18. You're strong, you're smart, and you can change the world. Because she can!
19. I'm here for you. She needs to know that she can come to you for anything and that you'll be ready to listen.
20. I'm sorry. No one is perfect, and sometimes we lose our cool. An apology shows that we can admit when we're wrong, which is an important life skill.
Discover new ways to enjoy the outdoors! The National Park Service’s Junior Ranger motto is “Explore. Learn. Protect.” And that is exactly what your 4 to 13-year-olds get to do! Explore national parks in the Bay Area; Learn about the park’s natural wildlife, landscape and history; and Protect those parks so we can trek through them for years to come! After completing a series of activities (like counting rings on a fallen tree, word games and deciphering secret codes), kiddos can earn an official Junior Ranger patch and a Junior Ranger certificate. Keep reading to find out exactly which parks offer this cool program. And we’ve included a few virtual options as well!
How it Works
It’s simple! Go to one of the parks listed below. Pick up the Junior Park Ranger book at the visitor center (or sometimes you can download and print from home). Have fun doing all the activities and then turn in your completed book to a park ranger and get your badge and/or certificate. And the best part is that it’s FREE and available year-round.
Where to Go!
Muir Woods National Monument
Spend time in the forest! Follow the directions in your book and then chat with a ranger about your time in the park. Discuss what you learned and what you’re still curious about. And then Wala! Your kiddo gets a badge and a certificate and you are now the proud parent of a Junior Park Ranger! Get the book here!
Best for Ages: 4-11+
Website: Muir Woods National Monument
Marin Headlands
Travel just north of the Golden Gate Bridge and explore the wonders of nature in the Marin Headlands. Learn about ocean ecology, the history of the inhabitants of years past and how to study animal scat! Get the book here!
Best for Ages: 6-12
Website: Marin Headlands Visitor’s Center
photo by Alcatraz Cruises
Alcatraz Island
Explore one of the most iconic prisons in the United States. Dive into the mystery and unique history of this national park. Are you ready to become an Alcatraz Jr. Ranger? Get the book here! Follow the map and complete the exercises along the way! Books are also available on Alcatraz Island at the Dock Information Station. And if you can’t make it to Alcatraz, don’t worry. You can visit virtually using the Jr. Ranger Photo Gallery and an Alcatraz Ranger will send your little one a badge!
Best for Ages: 4-12
Website: Alcatraz Island
Fort Point National Historic Site
Explore the fort. Learn about its incredible history. And protect the fort’s beauty and environment so that generations can enjoy it for years to come! Try a scavenger hunt, interview a ranger and learn about the day in a life of a soldier (Fort Point defended the Bay after the Gold Rush and through World War II). Get the book here!
Best for Ages: 4-11+
Website: Fort Point National Historic Site
Photo: annie-spratt via unsplash
China Camp
This Junior Ranger program searches for birds that live and visit China Camp’s shorelines and oak woodlands. You might find hummingbirds, raptors, shorebirds and waterfowl. Kiddos will also get an up-close peek at nests and feathers. Don’t forget your camera! The program will be guided by naturalists/educators Suzanne Mirviss and Paula O’Connell. And good news! All kids must be accompanied by an adult—so you can join in on the fun as well! Register Here
Best for Ages: 7-9 Date: April 9, 2022 Time: 10 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Location: China Camp Ranger Station
Website: China Camp
*Pro-tip: Weather can be temperamental—layers work best! Snacks are welcome and water is encouraged.
San Francisco Maritime Park
Pick up your Junior Ranger activity book at one of three locations. Learn about a fleet of historic vessels and visit the maritime museum. At the same time, complete the activities and then find a park ranger who can review your kiddos hard work and award them with a well-earned Junior Ranger badge. Books are also available for download here for 5-8 yeard olds and 9-12 year olds.
Best for Ages: 5-12
Locations:
Hyde Street Pier, Foot of Hyde Street/2905 Hyde Street
Municipal Pier (Aquatic Park Pier)
Aquatic Park Bathhouse Building (Maritime Museum), Foot of Polk Street/900 Beach Street
Website: San Francisco Maritime Park
Photo: toki-doki via creative commons
Point Reyes Junior Ranger
Come to Point Reyes and pick up your Junior Ranger book at one of the park’s visitor centers. Explore the history of the Coast Miwok (people who call this area home) and learn about marine life (especially elephant seals and gray whales). When you finish your Junior Ranger book, return it to one of the visitor centers to get sworn in as an official Junior Park Ranger and receive your Junior Ranger patch. Too much time exploring to finish the book while you are in the park? Complete it later and mail it here: Bear Valley Visitor Center, Point Reyes National Seashore, 1 Bear Valley Road, Point Reyes Station, CA, 94956.
A ranger will check your work and mail the book back to you with a patch! Can’t make the trip to Point Reyes? Become a Virtual Junior Ranger!
Best for Ages: 5-12+
Website: Point Reyes National Seashore
Virtual Opportunities
Dual Language
Initiated in the summer of 2020, close to 10,000 people participated in Virtual Junior Ranger Programs. Because they were so successful, the staff decided to continue the programs. And now—a dual language Junior Ranger program is available online. Check it out for yourself! And click here to access six different modules to complete at your own pace.
Beach Buddies Junior Ranger Book
The Beach Buddies Jr. Ranger book features Petey Plover, a cute little bird with a brown Ranger hat. Petey guides you through fun activities that teach you how to keep your beaches clean and safe in fun and easy ways. Get the book here!
Best for Ages: 6-10+
Virtual Junior Ranger Railroad Explorer
Ready to become a railroad explorer? Learn more about the transcontinental railroad, which helped link the United States from coast to coast! Complete this book, check your work and complete the pledge in the back of the book.
Junior Ranger Sounds Explorer
Meet Lucy, the listening owl. Follow her as you explore the sounds of the park, learn the science behind those sounds and appreciate why we need to protect those sounds. Complete this book, check your answers with this key, have a parent sign the certificate to become a Junior Ranger Sounds Explorer. To find out more about natural sounds and why sounds matter, check this out!
Best for Ages 5-10+
Junior Ranger in Space
Co-designed with NASA, click here to access the Spaceflight Explorer Jr. Ranger book. Complete with math and matching puzzles, thinking questions, spot the difference photos, scrambled words and anagrams, children will learn about the Moon, space vehicles and national parks. Take the pledge, make your own badge, and show off your certificate proudly!
Best for Ages: 5-8
Junior Ranger Angler
Let’s go fishing! Get your booklet here! Learn about fishing, aquatic life and safety while you meet fish, learn about different types of fishing and get to know the gear. Parents, check their work and then scroll to the bottom of this page to print a badge.
Best for Ages: 5-12+
Junior Ranger Scientist
Explore magnificent caves, learn what cave scientists actually do and start protecting our natural environments and the things that make caves special! Complete this booklet and send it to this address: Jr. Cave Scientist, GRD-Academy Place, PO BOX 25287, Denver, CO 80225. Via mail, you will receive your booklet, a badge and a personal letter to your little explorer.
Best for Ages: 5-12+
Junior Ranger Night Explorer
Here’s the booklet! Try the “exploring with your Senses” and the “Take a Planet Walk” sections. Complete as much of the book as you can. Sign the book and take a look at your well-deserved virtual high-five.
Best for Age: 5-12+
Did your kiddos find themselves reading during the pandemic? A new survey says they’re not alone.
Epic, in partnership with Morning Consult has just released a report on the habits and reading preferences in kids taken from a survey of parents. The report, titled Read All About It: A Report on the State of Kids’ Reading Habits and Interests During the Pandemic, combines the result of the survey on the activities and feelings kids had during the pandemic with date taken from Epic’s data team. What did it find?
photo: iStock
The report found that children of all ages increased their reading, resulting in improvement of their wellbeing. 2020 found that kids read an extra hour each month, read for fun four or more times per week and that they read for 20 minutes each day.
Most importantly, parents reported they felt that 69 percent of kids were happier after they read and close to 75 percent said their children were more creative, curious and willing to try something new.
Kevin Donahue, co-founder of Epic shares “It’s a dream for us to see that the data reflects one of the founding principles of Epic: to inspire curiosity in children and fuel their innate love of learning. Discovering that 82% of parents said their kids were eager to discuss what they read after putting down the book made us proud of what Epic has accomplished; not only in its ability to effectively engage kids in reading, but to spark family conversation and continue the learning beyond the platform.”
What else did the study find?
86 percent of finished books were fiction of the books kids finished in 2020 were fiction
Kids read more Monday through Friday and in June and July
The 10 most popular search terms were animals, friendship, funny, pet, cat, bedtime, strange, monster, family and dog
Cheetos is returning to the Super Bowl stage with a new commercial. The video features Kutcher discovering shocking evidence mysteriously tied to the disappearance of his Cheetos Crunch Pop Mix. Tune in to Super Bowl LIV to see what he does with this Cheetle-coated evidence.
The Super Bowl campaign reveals the next chapter in the brand’s “It’s A Cheetos Thing” ad campaign. Cheetos reclaimed its Super Bowl icon status last year and is back this year with the launch of a campaign and Super Bowl commercial featuring serious star power alongside a seriously delicious snack: newly released Cheetos Crunch Pop Mix. The ad will feature the dangerously cheesy snack mix: a blend of two fan favorites — traditional Cheetos Crunchy and the immensely popular Cheetos Popcorn introduced during last year’s Super Bowl LIV.
“Following the success of Cheetos’ big return to the Super Bowl last year with our biggest innovation in a decade in Cheetos Popcorn, we had to dial up both our product and Super Bowl campaigns this time around,” said Rachel Ferdinando, SVP and Chief Marketing Officer, Frito-Lay North America. “I humbly believe we’ve accomplished that with new Cheetos Crunch Pop Mix, bringing fans their two most beloved flavors in Cheetos Popcorn with Cheetos Crunchy. And we’re bringing it to the biggest stage with the help of the multi-talented Ashton Kutcher, who we’re thrilled and honored to work with.”
Just six short months ago it was unfathomable that we would be working from home while trying to juggle distance learning and taking care of babies. The reality of COVID-19 sticking around a lot longer than we thought is starting to set in for most people. I remember my naive, mid-March self thinking; by May 1st kids will be back in school and all will be right again in the world.
Prior to the global pandemic, I was a full-time mom and the sole full-time employee at Dreamland Baby. I was juggling four kids’ schedules but we had a really good routine and the kids were in school for 6 hours a day. My baby was still young enough that he was taking a super long day nap or would hang out next to me while I was working.
Fast forward six months and now I have a kindergartener, first grader and second grader who are all doing distance learning from home and a two and a half year old who literally does not stop talking. I’ve had to adjust, hire help and add a weekly “mom’s night off” to get me through. I want to share my top four sanity tips for working from home with kids.
Tip 1: Ask for help, hire help, just get help.
You guys, I was drowning. It was mid July where I hit my working-from-home mom rock bottom. While on the 10,000th Zoom call of that day, my 7 year old daughter walked in and was trying to ask me something. I was doing the hand wave to have her get out but she wasn’t listening. She kept talking and I kept waving. Realizing this wasn’t working I decided to shut off my Zoom camera and scream, at the top of my lungs, “GET OUT!” This wasn’t just any scream it was animalistic, like my throat actually hurt after. I immediately sat down, put a half smile on my face and put myself back on video. I saw a stunned group of faces and someone asked; everything OK over there? I hadn’t muted myself. I called a nanny agency and we hired someone the next week. Recognizing when you need help is critical.
Tip 2: Keep a morning routine.
This is something I swear by religiously. Prior to taking time to making this practice a core part of my day I would stay up late, then sleep in and be woken up by my children every morning. This sounds terrible but I use to dread hearing their voices in the morning while I was trying to get just 10 more minutes of sleep. My problem was always going to bed too late. I got on track by taking melatonin every night for two weeks until my body was use to going to bed at 10 p.m. I need a full 8 hours of sleep (my husband jokes my ideal sleep pattern is 10 hours) so knowing I couldn’t comprise on the number of hours I had to find a way to go to sleep earlier. Now I wake up, take 10 minutes to pray, write in my notebook the top three things that need to be accomplished that day and what I am grateful for, take a green shot, drink a glass of water then get a 30 minute work out in. My kids wake up right about this time and I am able to greet them, feeling happy and accomplished. We eat breakfast together then I shower and start my work day at 9 a.m. Having a morning routine sets the tone for my day, prioritize my goals, and dramatically increase work productivity.
Tip 3: Set work limits.
Being an entrepreneur (I am the Founder of Dreamland Baby) can lead to working endless hours. There was a time I use to work all day Saturday and Sunday but the burn out was real and finally had to cut back to just Monday-Friday. I am still guilty of working crazy hours during the week but trying to be better about setting and end time to my day and actually sticking with it.
I see this with my husband and my friends who traditionally worked in an office. You get in at 9 a.m. and you leave at 5 p.m. and you leave your work behind. Well now your work is inside your home. My husband’s work station is set up inside our bedroom. There are so many nights we are winding down and relaxing but instead of spending time with me he drifts back to his “office” to finish up one more email. It is tempting to keep going but ultimately you are doing more harm than good if you don’t take a break.
Tip 4: Don’t forget to be social.
Having a solid social life might feel like a thing of the past but if you put it as a priority and effort you can make it happen. I am naturally extroverted and love getting together with my girlfriends. When I have a few hours away from my home, laughing and connecting with friends I come back a better mom, wife and more productive in work. I live in California and we began shelter in place very early. I was basically inside my home from March to July. I was going a little (or a lot) stir crazy. I asked my husband if I could have one night off during the week that was a “me” night. I let all my girlfriends know and now we have a girl’s night out every Wednesday. We do things like walk the neighborhood, meet for dinner outdoors or just hang out in someone’s back yard and chat. If you aren’t in a place where you can meet in person, try a weekly zoom call with friends. It has been so nourishing for my soul and ultimately makes me such a better employee because I am shutting off my work brain and just having fun for a few hours every week.
Tara met Rob after a career move to the Bay Area; they’ve been married for almost 9 years and have 4 children. Tara worked for a number of medical startups before creating wearable weighted blankets for infants. Tara launched Dreamland Baby in 2019 and adoringly refers to it as her 5th baby!
Take some time for yourself. In celebration of National Coffee Day, Milano is partnering with Tan France to make me-time extra special this fall. The Milano x Tan France Cup & Saucer set is crafted to make eating Milano cookies even more indulgent.
This new initiative hopes to inspire you to take a moment to recognize and celebrate life’s wins both big and small. #HaveACookie to celebrate all of those little victories like getting the kids to bed early.
France said, “I’ve partnered with Milano cookies to create a limited-edition cup & saucer set, specially designed to add a little extra sweetness to your daily routine. Whether you’ve accomplished a huge work goal or simply need a break from all that is 2020, what better way to celebrate than to have a cookie?”
Each set includes a bag of Double Dark Chocolate Milano cookies, the perfect balance of crisp cookies and rich, luxurious chocolate, to enjoy with your fall drink of choice.
“Now more than ever, it’s important to appreciate and reflect on wins big and small — and I personally enjoy doing so while curling up with my favorite cup of coffee and having a Milano cookie!” said France.
Milano will be giving away a select number of the limited-edition sets on the Milano Instagram (@Milanocookies) on National Coffee Day. Fans can enter for a chance to win between Sept. 29 and Oct. 2 by following @Milanocookies and tagging who they’d like to #HaveACookie with.
You might dread cleaning your house, but the truth is once you start you actually feel pretty great. A study reveals why cleaning feels so satisfying and it’s not just because you can finally see the floor again.
The Mr. Clean Cleaning Rush Study conducted in partnership with Ipsos Public Affairs tracked the biometric response to cleaning using wearable devices and found that cleaning stimulates an adrenaline rush. The tracking devices measured the Galvanic Skin Response (GSR) and Heart Rate (HR) of participants and found that while cleaning, changes were observed. This shift was driven by feelings of emotional enthusiasm and excitement, much like watching a sporting event.
Participants were also surveyed on their feelings about cleaning and a whopping 100 percent agreed that cleaning provides peace of mind and a sense of control over one’s environment. Among those surveyed, 82 percent also strongly agreed they like to admire their work after a good clean and 81 percent felt a sense of accomplishment when they finished.
“Cleaning anything, whether it’s wiping smudges off your fridge or removing greasy build up from your car’s wheels, can boost your mood and give you a sense of pride for a job well done,” said Dr. Jennifer Hartstein, clinical psychologist. “This positive mental boost can lead to an increased desire to continue cleaning and ultimately results in a truly satisfying experience that leaves the cleaner feeling accomplished.”
The study also found that those enthusiastic feelings that cleaning elicits can often push you to clean more than you had planned for. Two-thirds of the study’s participants strongly agreed that they often cleaned more than they originally set out to and 82 percent of the participants agreed to clean an optional sticky kitchen mess that hadn’t been on their original task list.
After cleaning, participants reported feeling more determined, inspired and proud, and less jittery, nervous and hostile. So the next time your kids are driving you crazy, you might consider swapping that glass of rosé for a sponge.
Today, ZoLi announced their latest collaboration with artist, Brady Smith. The ZoLi x Brady Smith limited-edition collaboration features a variety of fun and playful original artwork appearing on ZoLi’s popular silicone coloring placemats known as colorMATTIES. Children of all ages can bring Smith’s whimsical art to life when they color the reusable placemats at home, on a play-date, or at a restaurant.
ZoLi x Brady Smith colorMATTIES are available now at Amazon, independent retailers, and on ZoLi’s website. These silicone, coloring placemats each come with four washable markers allowing children to color and reuse them time and time again. Made with 100% food grade silicone, these mats are free of BPA, phthalates, PVC, and VOC. Plus, they are water and odor resistant. Featuring a convenient cut out, these mats hang for easy drying.
The ZoLi x Brady Smith colorMATTIES are available in two designs:
Space Fun – blast off into outer space and meet a few new extraterrestrial friends along the way.
Sea Fun – head under the sea with Brady’s cast of whimsical underwater creatures.
Brady Smith is an accomplished artist, children’s book author, actor, and feature film and TV writer. This collaboration with ZoLi is not his first time in the juvenile space. Last year, Brady released a children’s book, You’re Missing It!, which he illustrated and co-wrote with his wife, Tiffani Thiessen. Earlier this year, he collaborated with apparel company Kira Kids on a line of t-shirts for kids that feature his unique and fun illustrations. Smith said, “Like so many other parents, my wife and I struggle to find fun activities for the kids when we go out to eat, other than staring at a screen. So I love the creativity that my kids show when they get to color in their own colorMATTIES designed by Dad!”
Founder & CEO of ZoLi, Julianna Shaw, said, “We wanted to collaborate with Brady the moment we saw his playful and fun illustrations, which fit seamlessly with ZoLi’s stylish and functional products. We can’t wait for both ZoLi and Brady fans to get a chance to color in their very own ZoLi x Brady Smith colorMATTIES.”
These mats retail for $22.00, which includes 1 mat and 4 markers per pack.
It’s been 25 years since the queen of pop accomplished something very few modern musical artists have by creating an original hit holiday song. Now you can learn all about how Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas” came to life in a mini documentary on Amazon.
Carey revealed the trailer for the new Amazon documentary, Mariah Carey is Christmas! in an Instagram post captioned. “Can’t wait to share this with you guys!”
The documentary follows the story of Carey’s now famous song and features interviews with the star herself as well as producer Randy Jackson. The trailer shows Jackson admitting that he initially thought a modern holiday song could be this much of a hit. Carey is shown saying, “I just remember where I was coming from, wanting it to feel like a classic. It was an accomplishment for me that I was really proud of.”
In honor of the anniversary Legacy Recordings also released Carey’s “Merry Christmas 25th Anniversary Deluxe Edition.” The compilation includes the original album and a disc featuring previously unreleased live tracks from her 1994 St. John The Divine Benefit Concert, rare remixes and a new rendition of the “Sugar Plum Fairy.”
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is officially open at both Disneyland and Disney World, but the best attraction is yet to come. Disney has revealed new details on the new Rise of the Resistance ride and it’s going to be epic.
The new ride, which draws on the design and function of several of Disney’s most popular attractions, is unlike any other ride they’ve ever designed. It combines elements from multiple ride systems to create a record breaking 15 minute journey.
photo: Joshua Sudock/Disney Parks
The attraction starts off with riders arriving at an outpost planet. They are then recruited to join the resistance and given a mission to head to General Organa’s secret base. However, the standing-room ship you’re loaded onto quickly gets pulled into a Star Destroyer, where you are taken prisoner by the First Order.
Guests will then climb aboard a trackless vehicle that incorporates simulators and animatronics. They will find themselves driving below the bellies of two life-sized AT-ATs and making their way through the Star Destroyer hangar trying to escape Kylo Ren. Luckily, each vehicle will be quipped with a droid to help guide the way to safety.
In one sequence, new technology will give riders the sense that they are actually falling through space and crash-landed on the planet of Batuu. According to Travel and Leisure, this will be accomplished through a revolutionary new design which physically drops the ride vehicle onto a motion simulator base for an entirely new ride element.
Fans don’t have much longer to wait for this incredible new experience. Rise of the Resistance opens Dec. 5, 2019, at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Florida and Jan. 17, 2020, at Disneyland.
