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Quote of the Week
"And here is my secret. A very simple secret. It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye."
--Antoine de Saint-Exupery, The Little Prince
Girls' Self-Esteem: How To Help Children Value Their Inner Beauty
"Kids enter the world oblivious to our harsh standards of beauty. When baby girls take their first steps, they know nothing about supermodels, airbrushing and being a size 0. They say their first “mama,” and they're totally ignorant of Botox, Bowflex, Britney or Beyonce.
Then all of a sudden your four-, five- or six-year-old daughter comes home and says sadly, “Mommy, I'm not as pretty as Madison/Melissa/another classmate.” You feel crushed -- and indignant. How could this wonderful child think she's not the most beautiful thing in the world?
It's an unfortunate rite of passage for girls in this image-focused society -- at some point almost every girl will wonder if she's pretty enough (no thanks to the ubiquity of perfect Disney princesses). And while some children may be confident enough to shrug it off, others may feel the sting of rejection, even if they don't really understand why it is they're being rejected.
How can you help your child feel good about herself?" [read more]
Reading Corner
 Title: Sarah, Plain and Tall
Author: Patricia MacLachlan
Ages: 6-10 years
Why: The title character in Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan is neither pretty nor petite. However, Sarah radiates beauty in all she does-- from her kindness to chickens and affection for children to her fierce independence and determination. Sarah stands as a contrast to the pretty but shallow characters children often encounter in their everyday lives and provides a perfect focal point for a discussion about just what it means to be truly beautiful.
Recommended by Cubs Editors
Be The Change
Brainstorm with your child ways that he or she is beautiful that have nothing to do with external appearances. What things does he enjoy doing? What are her talents? How do they enjoy making a difference in the world around them? For more suggestions, particularly for little girls but adaptable to boys as well, consider suggestions outlined [here] by the Dove campaign.
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