Celebrate Earth Day 2013 with Clean Water

Celebrate Earth Day 2013 with Clean Water

Celebrate Earh Day 2013Today marks the 43rd celebration of Earth Day.  According to the Earth Day Network website, “All of EDN’s activities, whether greening schools or promoting green economic policies at home and abroad, inform and energize populations so they will act to secure a healthy future for themselves and their children.”

In the spirit of Earth Day 2013, I thought I would do some research and provide information on several charities that work to provide clean water for bathing, drinking and washing to people across the globe.  This idea was sparked by my recent visit to the Gates Foundation Visitor’s Center in downtown Seattle.

The exhibit includes a ‘water walkway’ where you can walk in the footsteps of an African woman who must walk several miles a day to get water for her family.  There is even a bucket filled with water to give visitors an idea of how heavy the load is.  Another subtext is the time spent on getting the water, time that could be spent on other activities such as growing food or educating her children.

As a reminder, always use Charity Navigator to thoroughly vet a charity before sending them your money.  I hope this list inspires you and your daughter to research these organizations and donate in support of working towards clean water for the populations who need it.

WaterCharity.org

Water Charity is a nonprofit corporation, directed toward improving the human rights and dignity of individuals throughout the world by providing them with resources that impact upon their health and wellbeing. With all donations applied to projects in the field, we have become one of the best and highest-ranked water charities delivering global services.

TheWaterProject.org

The Water Project, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization bringing relief to communities around the world who suffer needlessly from a lack of access to clean water and proper sanitation.

 Clean Water Fund

Clean Water Fund’s mission is to develop strong grassroots environmental leadership and to bring together diverse constituencies to work cooperatively for changes that improve their lives, focused on health, consumer, environmental and community problems.

What do you say to the children about violence?

What do you say to the children about Violence?

How do you talk to your kids about violence?With today’s horrific events in Boston, MA, we are once again reminded of how fragile life is. We place ourselves in random every day events and wonder what would happen if a bomb went off or a shot rang out. Life must go on though, we cannot hide from it in our homes and hope that tragedy never happens near us.

As parents, we also have to decide how to discuss these events with our children. Our 21 year old son Dylan feels that his generation will be marked by the events of 9/11. Among his friends they divide themselves into those who remember what happened that day and those that don’t. Just as I’m sure another generation marked themselves by the attack on Pearl Harbor.

And it’s not just large scale bombings or terrorist attacks that need to be explained. There is always war news on TV and there are mass shootings of innocent people and the fear that we are not safe in our schools, shopping malls, theaters or other public gathering places. This can cause anxiety in children, an anxiety that could last a lifetime if not handled properly.

When the Newtown school shootings occurred, a wonderful story about Mister Rogers was in the Washington Post. The concept is so simple to understand, especially for young children – “Look for the helpers”. This is what I would tell young children – look for the people who are helping, whether they are in uniform or not. And those people will always be there, as witnessed today when video of the Boston Marathon explosions showed people running toward the source of the explosions. Those are the helpers. Knowing that there will always be someone there to help in an emergency will make a young child feel safer.

For older children, it’s not letting them get too caught up in the media frenzy that happens after these types of events. The constant attention paid on cable news, social media, and newspapers can be overwhelming. Know when to turn it all off and try to be there with your child to discuss what they are seeing on the news and how they feel about it.

Many people say we live in dangerous times, that things were better when they were kids. And yet, I have a friend in her sixties who remembers drills in case of nuclear attack and backyard bomb shelters. The 1960’s were marked by political assassinations and bloody civil rights riots while the 1970’s saw the Vietnam War played out nightly on network news.

Learning how to help our children understand and handle violent events will go a long way in helping them feel secure in the world.

Find other good advice from:
Parenting Press
American Psychological Association

‘What’s Normal?’ Bookmarks

‘What’s Normal?’ Bookmarks

Dot Girl BookmarkAs part of our community service at Dot Girl Products we distribute free ‘What’s Normal?’ bookmarks to schools and non profit organizations.  It is our way of educating as many girls as possible about the facts of menstruation.  The bookmarks contain several statements about periods and what is ‘normal’ as girls are always worrying if what they are going through is ‘normal’ although every girl is different, but normal.

The statements are simple and straightforward:

It’s normal….for your friends to start their periods before or after you.  Your body will know when it’s right for you.

It’s normal…to feel tenderness in your breasts while they are still developing, to see mucous in your panties before your period, to start your period later if you are athletic.

It’s normal…to worry that pads will show through your clothes, but they really won’t; to keep a pad or tampon in your pocket ‘just in case’; to have irregular periods the first two years.

It’s normal…to have cramps or feel a little blue around your period so be good to yourself; to have questions about how your body is changing so don’t be afraid to talk to someone you trust.

I receive many emails from young girls who are waiting, just waiting to start their first period.  Some are anxious about starting, some want to start soon so that they will be ‘all grown up’.  What is interesting is that their questions usually are about the statements above – I’m seeing yellow stuff in my underwear, my breasts are popping out and are tender, I’m getting pubic hair – what should I do?  And the age old question – when am I going to start my period?  Of course, no one can answer that last question for any girl.

We all can though make sure that our daughters or other young girls we are responsible for understand what menstruation is all about. If you know of a school group or non profit that would benefit from the ‘What’s Normal?’ bookmark, please let us know through our ‘Contact Us‘ page.

 

 

Chocolate Matzah for Passover

Chocolate Matzah for Passover

Tonight marks the first night of Passover and is celebrated by a Passover Seder, a dinner with family and friends to retell the story of the Jews liberation from Egyptian bondage.  This story is told in the Book of Exodus.  Since the Jews had to flee Egypt so quickly they were not able to wait for their bread dough to rise.  Later, when the dough was baked, it was Matzah.  Traditionally Jews eat Matzah in place of bread during the eight days of Passover to remember this story.

In our house, we celebrate my husband’s Jewish heritage with a family Passover Seder where friends are always included.  A favorite treat for us to share is Chocolate Matzah.  I’ve included the recipe here for you all to enjoy.  Matzah may usually be found in supermarkets around Passover time, especially in areas with large Jewish populations.  Forewarning, this treat is addictive, you may end up eating the whole batch yourself!

Ingredients:

4 – 6 Unsalted Matzohs

1 cup (2 sticks) butter

1 cup firmly packed brown sugar

3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Preheat over to 375 degrees.  Line a large cookie sheet with foil.  Cover the bottom of the sheet with baking parchment paper – on top of the foil.  This is important since the mixture becomes sticky during baking.

Line the bottom of the cookie sheet evenly with the matzah, cutting extra pieces as required to fit any spaces.

In a 3 quart, heavy bottomed saucepan, combine the butter and brown sugar.  Cook over medium heat stirring constantly, until the mixture comes to a boil.  Boil for 3 minutes, stirring constantly.  Remove from heat and pour over the matzah, covering completely.

Place the baking sheet in the oven and immediately reduce the heat to 350 degrees.  Bake for 15 minutes checking every few minutes to make sure the mixture is not burning.

Remove from the oven and sprinkle immediately with the chocolate chips.  Let stand for 5 minutes then spread the melted chocolate over the matzah.  While still warm break into squares or odd shapes.  Chill still in the pan in the freezer until set.

‘Gender Neutral’ Toys for Girls

‘Gender Neutral’ Toys for Girls

Toy manufacturers seem to finally realize that girls want toys that are a little more ‘boyish’.  With the emphasis on gender-neutral toys and the push for girls to have more support in exploring STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) opportunities, there has been an explosion of new toys on the market.  I’ve done some research and come up with some of the latest and greatest toys you might want to consider for your daughter.

This list is in completely random order:

Does your daughter want to be a doctor?

In my day the game ‘Operation’ helped teach about the different organs of the body, now girls can explore with Squishy Human Body from SmartLabs.  With a true to life human body and removable organs, kids can see exactly what is under their skin without getting any blood on their hands.  An instruction book is included along with tweezers and forceps so kids can ‘operate’ with ease.

Does your daughter want to be an engineer?

Now admittedly, this toy is not ‘gender-neutral’ but it’s aim is to get girls interested in engineering so I’m allowing it on the list. Soon to be on the market – and funded by KickStarter – GoldieBlox is the new engineering toy for girls.  Goldie is the engineer and in her debut toy she builds a spinning machine for her dog Nacho to chase his tail.  The toy is receiving lots of press so I can imagine that you will soon see GoldieBlox in every little girl’s bedroom very soon.

Does your daughter want to be a builder?

Structures by KEVA is the best choice for getting your daughter interested in building.  Using the wooden blanks, a girl can build bridges, buildings, or whatever else she dreams up.  A book with structure ideas is included.  Keva has other toys too including MindWare KEVA Contraptions to challenge the girl who likes to play with chutes and ladders.

Does your daughter want to be a chemist?

75 unique experiments are included in the CHEM C1000 beginner’s chemistry set.  This chemistry set will allow your daughter to build a strong foundation in chemistry with experiments ranging from writing in invisible ink to testing air pressure and other weather phenomena.  Safety instructions are included and I’m sure your daughter would also love a lab coat and safety glasses to go along with the chemistry set.

Celebrate Pi Day 2013!

Celebrate Pi Day 2013!

Girls and MathToday Pi Day is celebrated around the world.  Pi (Greek letter “π”) is the symbol used in mathematics to represent a constant — the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter — which is approximately 3.14159.  Pi is learned by most school kids and then quickly forgotten as how many times in life are we called upon to state the ratio of the circumference of a circle to it’s diameter?

As I was thinking of Pi Day, I took a walk down memory lane and remembered the math contests my 7th grade teacher used to hold every week.  She would put a problem on the blackboard and the class had to work out the answer.  Once you found the answer, you stood up and who ever stood up first was the winner.  She would do several problems so several students would have the chance to come in first.  Being very competitive I always wanted to come in first, and I also always wanted to beat the boys in the class, which I did many times.  Before the start of 8th grade many of the boys transferred from the small Catholic school I attended to the public middle school in town.  This made math competitions far less fun and over time, I lost my interest in math.

This is typical of girls, around middle school girls somehow get the message that math is for boys and they move away from the subject.  But according to an article by Kavita Varma-Whit, a TODAY contributor, girls just need to stick with it, especially in math competitions.  Ms. Varma-Whit quotes a study published in the Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization.  The study found that in math competitions with more than one round, girls performed as well or sometimes better than boys.  Read the whole article here.

What is the lesson here for you as a parent and for your daughter?  The same lesson that can be applied in so many situations – stick to it!  Whether that be a math competition, a sports competition or just sticking to a new habit for more than one day.  Trying once, not being successful, and then stopping can lead to a sense of frustration at never accomplishing anything.  And we all need to know we can be successful at something.

 

Your Daughter’s Dating Life

Your Daughter’s Dating Life

Your Daughter's Dating LifeWith Valentine’s Day just around the corner, young girls (and boys) minds turn to love.  And parents start to worry about their daughter dating – what is the right age for group dating or solo dating, do I have to meet the boy first, do I need to know his parents?  Just like with any new milestone you reach with your daughter, dating and how to develop trusting relationships with the opposite sex will require more than one discussion. Here’s an opportunity to look at your daughter’s dating life not as one big step but rather one in-between step for which you have prepared her for since the start of puberty.

Even though you may have determined a minimum age requirement for your daughter to begin dating doesn’t mean that she won’t be interested earlier. Or she may not be emotionally ready at that predetermined age. But you can expect that at some point she will show an interest in boys so be ready with your calmest its-just-another-part-of-growing-up reaction.

Let your daughter know that it is OK to be “just friends” with boys. This is a great way for her to feel like she can be herself without any romantic expectations. Friendships with the opposite sex formed before middle school can be beneficial in later teen years when your daughter does start to date. She’ll have the support of male friends who have known her over a period of time.  She also may not be so disappointed by the romantic relationships that don’t last.

Allow your daughter to socialize with boys but as with anything set clear limits and guidelines. For example, no entertaining in the bedroom or late night phone calls. It may help your daughter to know that her peers have similar limits so talk to the parents of her friends, girls and boys alike.

Parents can also cooperate to provide structured and supervised activities for girls and boys to socialize together.  A regular movie night or pizza party in someone’s home is a fun activity for the tween age group. The next step may be group dating where several boys and girls go out together but not necessarily as couples.Here’s another chance to socialize with the opposite sex without the pressures and expectations of one-on-one dating.

When your daughter is ready for one-on-one dating you can rest assured that you have prepared her for this step. Keep the lines of communication open and stay involved in her life. Continue fostering your daughters’ personal interests so that she has a strong sense of herself and always encourage her to be true to herself in all of her relationships.

A New Year’s Resolution for Parents

A New Year’s Resolution for Parents

A New Year's Resolution fThe start of every new calendar year is a traditional time to make New Year’s Resolutions.  Whether to lose 10 pounds, visit more museums, or be on time for appointments.  January 1st is also a good time to reflect on what is important to us in our personal and professional lives.

As parents we also may reflect on how we want to guide our children in the new year.  As our children grow each new year brings opportunities for teaching our children something new about themselves or about the world around them.  At Dot Girl, we highly recommend that parents educate daughters about their bodies and what to expect as their bodies change.

These conversations are never easy, so we’ve put together a list of websites and books that might be helpful in getting your started.  We hope you find the resources useful as you navigate this new year with your daughter.

Center for Young Women’s Health

Founded in 1998 the mission of this website “is to help teen girls, their parents, teachers and health care providers improve their understanding of normal health and development, as well as of specific diseases and conditions”.  The site includes a health guide from A to Z in English and Spanish along with online chat sessions and the TeenSpeak Blog.  Your daughter can find answers here on her own or with your guidance.

Girl’s Guide to Becoming a Teen

This book, published by the American Medical Association, includes information on puberty and what kinds of physical and emotional changes your daughter can expect, the importance of eating the right foods, the reproductive system and how to be safe, happy and healthy through the teenage years.

GirlsHealth.gov

This site was created in 2002 by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office on Women’s Health to help girls ages 10 to 16 to learn about health, growing up, and issues they may face. Topics promote healthy and positive behaviors in girls, giving them reliable and useful health information in a fun, easy-to-understand way. The website also provides information to parents and educators to help them teach girls about healthy living.

5 Best Christmas Gifts for Tween Girls

5 Best Christmas Gifts for Tween Girls

Are you still frantically doing your Christmas shopping?  We thought we’d help with some ideas for that special tween girl in your life.  These are our favorites based on experience and Dot Girl customer suggestions.

New Moon Girls Magazine

I gave this magazine to my 9 year old niece last year for Christmas and she liked it so much, her mother is renewing her subscription for this year.  New Moon Girls is entirely advertisement free.  Articles are written for girls by girls for ages 8+.  There is also an online community that is safe and monitored. Article titles in the recent magazine include Body Language: Picture Yourself Perfect, Throw an Art Show, and Painful Beauty: What’s the Modern Foot Binding?

Mogo Charms

The inventor behind the charms spoke at a business conference I attended this past summer and she passed out free samples.  What a great product!  Magnets on the bracelets are interchangeable leaving no end to your daughter’s creativity.  She can even start her own Mogo Charms club and trade with friends.  There are different themed magnet sets – everything from animals to peace symbols.  Other products include purses and sunglasses, all with interchangeable magnets.

FashionPlaytes.com

Does your daughter love clothes?  Would she like to do her own designing and then have the clothes made just for her?  Then FashionPlaytes.com is the place for her. The site allows girls to design and wear their own dresses, hoodies, jackets, t-shirts, and more.  There is even an option for customized jewelry.  Girls pick out the style and color, and then add their own flair.  It’s like playing with paper dolls but your daughter gets to have fun creating her own outfits.

The Boxcar Children

A favorite of my daughter when she was growing up (and my sons) and now my niece is reading their old copies.  The series – for readers 7+ – follows a family of 4 orphaned siblings who make a home in a boxcar.  Their grandfather does figure into the story also.  The children solve mysteries and overcome obstacles in their path by working together.  There are over 130 titles, so something for every reader.  This year marks the 70th anniversary of the series which means many special editions are available.

A Mighty Girl

This is not a single toy or gift, but a website that offers products for girls that counter the princess culture that seems to have taken over girl books, movies and toys over the last few years.  Products for infants to teens are included, with many book and movie recommendations.  It really is a site where you can find the perfect gift to match your daughter’s interest and your values.

Happy Shopping!

Raising Your Daughter in a Multi-Religious Family

Raising Your Daughter in a Multi-Religious Family

I am a born and raised Catholic.  12 years of Catholic school, church every Sunday, and no meat on Fridays.  My family could not have been more traditional.  My husband is Jewish.  He was raised with Hebrew School, a Bar Mitzvah at 13 and Hanakkuh candles.  Needless to say, when we decided we were meant to spend our lives together, there had to be a serious discussion on how we would raise our children in a multi-religious family.  We settled on a compromise – both and then let the kids decide for themselves.

As they matured, our three children each decided they were more comfortable in the Jewish faith, but didn’t want to give up the celebration of Christmas.  Perhaps to honor me their mother, or perhaps they just wanted the presents!  Which makes for a very busy December holiday season with the Eight Nights of Hanakkuh and Christmas Day.

There are many ways Jewish/Christmas interfaith families can deal with the issue of what my husband calls the December Dilemma.  There are two that are more common – separate but equal and blended.

The separate but equal option is to celebrate both holidays as we do.  This strategy works if both partners are comfortable with it although compromise still may be necessary.  A plan also should be in place for extended family members.  Being sensitive to the mingling of Hanukkah lights and Christmas presents under the tree when grandparents come to visit is something spouses should discuss.

The second option is to try and blend Hanukkah and Christmas traditions.  It is not unusual to see Hanukkah-themed Christmas ornaments in stores.   This option also allows for some creative thinking. For example we send New Year’s cards to our family and friends instead of the traditional Christmas cards.  Making up your own family traditions gives the holidays a specialness your children will always remember.

Christmas is everywhere in our society and a major money maker for retailers.  At Target yesterday I wondered through rows and rows of Christmas decorations and wrapping paper while there was one end cap devoted to Hanakkuh supplies.  However, both spouses working together and respecting each others religion not only during the December madness but throughout the year can help instill a love and wonder in their children about their faiths.