The Power of Words!

I was reviewing student achievement literature the other day and was reminded of an astonishing piece of information.

Did you know that one of the main differences in children being ready to learn in kindergarten is the number of words that they know when they start?

Children who fair the best at school enter kindergarten knowing around 20,000 words. Those who do not do so well enter school with a vocabulary of only about 5,000 words.

What does that tell us as parents? It tells us that how we speak to our children greatly influences their future success in school. By engaging our children in conversations using a large variety of words will help them succeed in school.

Speak with your children not to them. Ask them questions. Encourage them to think. Use the right words for things, not baby talk. Label everything. Read to them and let them hear new words. Use new words every day. Give them a leg up. Set them up for success.

Strong words, strong message, strong parenting....

High-Achieving Women Discuss Resisting the Pressure to Be Perfect

I received an email today about an amazing event that took place on October 13th in the Big Apple!

Girls Incorporated,a nonprofit organization dedicated to inspiring all girls to be strong, smart, and bold, hosted a panel discussion on girls, women, and stress in New York City.

This event brought together women leaders in the areas of business, media, and health and wellness to discuss how this issue is a factor in their lives, their stress management strategies, and helping the next generation of women leaders navigate these pressures.

This was a great gathering of amazing women. Please take the time to view this discussion. What a great event and a great organization! You can view this video here:

http://www.girlsinc.org/news/girls-women-stress-roundtable.html

Girls Inc. is committed to its belief that girls can do anything! Of course we can!

Check it out!

Hear The Seven Secrets on WomenSpeak.com

I had the great opportunity to speak with Dr. Nancy O'Reilly from WomenSpeak.com for inclusion on Webtalkradio.net.

We spoke about the messages sent our girls about being female, the effect of media messages on our girls , my research and the Seven Secrets of Parenting Girls. We had a stimulating discussion and I would love to share it with you.

You can tune in right now and listen to that broadcast on WebTalk Radio! Just go to WomenSpeak.com and scroll down to Timeless Women Raise Strong Girls. The broadcast is archived so you can pass it on to your friends and family!

Give it a listen and give me your feedback!

A Chance Meeting With a Strong Girl!

I stopped at a diner in a rural area of Ohio today while spending the day enjoying the leaves and the covered bridges in that area. When ordering my lunch I was fortunate to meet, Macie, my waitress. She was a young girl, pregnant and very friendly.

I asked her about the area and what there was to do there. She quickly replied "Not a thing". This response prompted me to ask her if she had plans to leave the area. She said she did but she had to finish high school first. She said she was seventeen and a senior, currently finishing her last year through home schooling.

I asked her if she was planning on going to college and she said she was. She had aspirations to work with animals in some way. Wow, I thought, this girl is going to need strength and independence to reach her goals. I found myself giving her encouragement to do all she can to reach her dreams.

With her baby due in three weeks, I wondered about her and what her future would hold. When I found out she was having a girl, I quickly asked if I could have her email address! I told her about my eBook and she seemed excited to receive some free help on raising her daughter.

I left the diner wondering about Macie and her family and the messages that have been sent to her about her capabilities and her options. I wish the best for her. I am going to keep in contact with her. Maybe I can give her support in some way to help her achieve her aspirations.

Hopefully my eBook will impact her and her baby girl. She has my best wishes for her strength and success.

I had a good day today. I met a strong girl.

Strong Girls Needed in Congress!!!

I read an interesting article the other day about gender bias in insurance coverage. Findings by the National Women's Law Center revealed some troubling facts.

Did you know that in eight states, plus the District of Columbia, it's legal for insurance companies to deny health coverage to women victimized by domestic violence?

Did you also know that women who buy insurance in the private market pay as much as 50 percent more than men!

These insurance companies ague that women should pay more because they cost more, especially during childbearing years! It seems to me that men have a little something to do with pregnancies. Besides, children are a responsibility of the community and moms who get regular prenatal care have healthier babies. Healthier babies with good pediatric care cost less in the long run.

Gender-based penalties in the insurance market will hurt all of us and it needs to stop. The growing number of women in congress are fighting for us and they need to continue to be vigilant.

Hip, hip, hooray for those strong girls in Congress and the White House! We need you and we thank you!

Tell Me Your Strong Girl Story!!

My eBook The Seven Secrets of Parenting Girls has prompted me to begin a new endeavor. I would love to hear about your personal stories of strength to include in my next book. I would like to hear about your experiences and how the messages you, or someone close to you, have received about being female influenced you. Please email me your story, either about you, your daughter, your sister, your friend. I would love to hear about your struggles and your successes. Dads, your stories are welcome also. I truly appreciate everyone who has supported me and who has been active in nurturing strong girls. So, give it up! Tell me your story! You can email me at janet@drjanetrose.com. I am looking forward to hearing from you!