It’s been said that there are three things that every parent should give to their daughter:

• The confidence to always know her self-worth
• The strength to chase her dreams
• The ability to know how much she is loved

Little girls with dreams become women with vision. They are poised to make a positive impact on the world. Parents play a leading role in raising confident girls and that’s why it is so important to empower and encourage them on their journey.

The objective in raising strong girls is to help them to become young women who are independent, believe in themselves, can articulate their intentions, and have confidence in their abilities as they work to achieve their goals.

Here are a few helpful ideas to help parents to raise independent, self-confident daughters who grow into strong women:

• Model confidence – set an example by becoming more aware of how you act and speak about yourself and others. When girls observe their parents being confident, they are more likely to develop confidence themselves.
• Expose her to strong, positive female role models – both current and historical. The more girls see, hear and read about strong females, the more comfortable they will be in owning their personal strength. Remember to celebrate the success and accomplishments of all women.
• Explain what strength really means – how it is defined by meeting challenges head on and doing your best, not by being fearless.
• Foster passions and use genuine praise – children gain confidence when they feel passionate about something they enjoy doing, and work hard to become proficient in it. Encourage those interests and offer praise when goals are achieved through determination and perseverance.
• Teach your daughter that her worth is based on who she is inside, and not on appearance, intelligence or athleticism. Praise your daughter for her attributes like kindness, integrity, determination, hard work and positivity, as these are among the most defining characteristics of a person’s worth. Remember that self-worth is not built by focusing on accomplishments alone.

Raising a strong and confident daughter is possible and as a parent you play a leading role in helping your daughter to know her value, be confident in her abilities and prepared for opportunities that come her way.