Each of us has so many things in our lives for which we are grateful. One of the most important is the people that we love and cherish, especially our favorite little brown girls. November 24^th is Thanksgiving, and traditionally, that day has been set-aside for families to come together in feasting, reconnecting, and enjoying each other. It is also the perfect occasion for truly giving thanks for those special people that share your life, and taking appreciation beyond just the delicious turkey dinner.

To get your precious girl thinking beyond just the basics of the meal for the Thanksgiving holiday, try some of these activities which will encourage her to examine her relationships with friends and family, to find out more about a “harvest”, and to learn the true meaning of “thankfulness”:

Let her get her hands dirty! One of the hallmarks of the tradition behind the Thanksgiving holiday is that it’s a celebration of the harvest that was, in turn, shared among people of different cultures and beliefs. A great way to help your little honey to understand about a harvest is to consider volunteering at or starting your own community garden. Through this, she will not only learn about the earth and all that is needed to produce the foods that she enjoys, but she will learn about the hard work that it takes and cooperative efforts of a team of people that are instrumental in that process as well. If you have a community garden cooperative in your area, there may be opportunities for the two of you to work together to “grow” food for yourself or that you can donate to those that are needy.

Have her organize the place settings for your family’s Thanksgiving meal. Your sweetie can explore and gain greater insight into your family tree by just being involved in creating name cards for your table or holiday display. Even if you don’t want to set up “assigned” seats, it could be beneficial to include an area where everyone’s name and relationships are displayed. Little girls benefit from this exercise because they can get to see their families in terms of actual relationships and not just by each person’s involvement in their lives. For example, they may not have a lot of interaction with “Cousin Joe”, but it’s good that she understand how he is related to her and the other relatives. This could also turn into a great exercise for learning more about what each person does as a profession or your family’s historical contributions to society. She will definitely gain a greater appreciation for her family through this simple activity.

Encourage her to take a “count” of all of the good things that has happened in her life. Get her to consider everything from birthday gifts to special outings, and the things that she has learned in school that has helped her to be the best person that she can be. Your sweet girl may not always realize how much she has to be thankful for, but through this activity, she will have a real record of many of life’s wonderful blessings that she has enjoyed. Which is why it’s great for all of us to take stock every once in a while. It help us to keep things in perspective and to keep us thinking positively about what life has been and what it has to offer.

Try a new sweet tradition of giving to others for Thanksgiving. Most people usually have so many leftovers after their Thanksgiving feast that they grow tired of eating the food and much of it ends up discarded. This year, you and your precious honey can do something different with your leftovers. Give all of them away! Together, select an organization that you would like to donate your food to. Call them and coordinate to get the meals to them for their clients. Prepare plates in carryout containers, and deliver them immediately after your family has had their fill! It’s tradition to just keep eating on the meal, but for this one time, consider others and how your meal could be a real gift for them, especially during these tight economic times when non-profits are struggling to serve their populations. If you don’t want to donate from your meal, then prepare extra, just for giving away! Have your beautiful little girl decorate each carryout container for a truly personalized experience. Help her understand what your meal could mean to a homeless family or neglected child. She will feel wonderful knowing that the two of you are doing something special for someone else.

Thanksgiving can be a fantastic holiday, steeped in tradition, and plenteous in good food. But, it can also be a time of deeper reflection, altruism, compassion, and love. These are all things that any honey child can profit from and will, in life, become truly thankful for.

The “Back-To-School” season is underway, and its launch is sure to cause quite a stir in the hearts and minds of little brown girls everywhere. For our girls, starting or returning to school is a rite of passage that makes them feel a step closer to becoming the woman that they would like to be. Some of these precious ones will embrace the school year with excitement, wonder, and confidence. But not all of them will have that resolve, for many different reasons.  Those who don’t have that self-assurance and may be feeling a little uneasy about what the new school year will hold for them will need the women in their lives even more so during the early transitions of this educational term. Your support, optimism, and reassuring words could be a major determining factor in her ability to perform academically, how well she adjusts, and even how she handles some of the stressors that come with school. All of our little brown girls need to know that there are people who believe in them and are there to help them in any way possible, whether their academic endeavors are at the preschool level or whether they are competing in the global marketplace of ideas. We need to be their cheerleaders and give them a solid “home base” to champion the best school year ever!

Here are some basics to consider for promoting a healthy attitude in your little honey about school, learning, and reaching for her goals:

1. Get her equipped to achieve. School is never totally about making sure that every item on the supply list is purchased or that our favorite brown girls are picture-perfect in their outfits. The hope for each new school year should be that each one of them gets the tools that they need from their education, and from those who care about them. This will foster a love of learning that will lead to their long-term success. The ideals that we instill in our sweet young ladies about education will be integral to how they embrace learning.

2. Make the focus of your school preparation plan about HER and not just about the “lists.”  Get her involved in selecting items that fit her personality such as backpack style or type of sneakers. Also, the two of you can go online to browse some of the natural hair care blogs for children where she can pick out some cute new styles. She will likely feel more confident, more prepared, and will appreciate that you have considered her thoughts and likes. Knowing you’re with her and that you believe in her means so much!

3. Address her social concerns with love. Your sweet girl may be a little different from you in how she interacts socially. She may have some fears about new friendships and how best to approach others. Try not to be dismissive when it comes to her feelings. Instead, talk to her about them and let her vent. Then, coach her on ways that she can overcome some of her fears while being sure to always help her to understand that she, too, has many things to offer others.  Friendship is a two-way situation. She could learn from others and enjoy their company, but she can also be a positive influence in their lives. Those who are adept at making friends should also be coached in terms of maintaining those friendships, which may require them to be more willing to compromise and share.

4. Challenge her educationally along with her teacher. Learning doesn’t just happen in the classroom. Help her to see that there are educational opportunities all around us every day. Take what she learns at school a step further at home and in time, your little sweetie will surely start to recognize these wonderful chances to explore, discover, and learn on her own! For the little ones who need additional educational help, be prepared to help them early on so that they don’t fall too far behind. We all learn differently, and your brown girl may need you to find resources, outside of the classroom, that are more aligned with her individual needs. Don’t be embarrassed if she is not “picking up” as quickly as others or as you had hoped. Instead, find other ways for her to learn and always reinforce the skills that she has accomplished.

A successful school year is one that blends consistent support, realistic expectations, plenty of occasions for learning, and an abundance of love. Mix these up right and your little honey could be on her way to educational and lifelong success!

There’s nothing sweeter than having someone with whom to share your life. This especially holds true when it comes to those little girls who fill each of our days with happiness, excitement, and love. Whether the brown girl in your life is a daughter, cousin, or niece, there is a unification that will take place, over time, between females. For you and your little honey, your relationship could develop a sisterly bond that will open your lives to even more special and truly loving moments as you share your personal experiences, strengths, and even tough times with each other. There is something awesome about being sisters regardless of whether you’ve been brought together by a familial relationship or whether, through life, you have become “sisters” in spirit and mind. Either way, sisterly love is precious, beautiful, and worthy of being celebrated!

August 7^th is Sisters Day and we thought it would be great to present some activities that your precious little one can do with her real sisters or close friends that she has, as well as activities that the two of you can do to further enhance the bond that you share. Even if neither one of you has a biological sister, your relationships with other girls and women could completely qualify you to call each other sister!

Sisters Stars– Have an “open mic” session for all of your little sweetie’s friends to get together and share their talents. Encourage them to cheer each other on and to show their love for each other as they perform. Whether they decide to sing, read a poem, or dance, applaud them for their courage. After everyone has had a turn, encourage the girls to draw pictures about their experience or what they liked the best about each performance. Make a book of their artwork, make copies for all of the girls, and they will have something to remember the event. It will also help them to understand the importance of staying positive, showing support and a genuine interest in those that you care about. After this, they will surely be “sister stars”!

Sweet Sisters In The Rock – A fantastic way to bond with any group of friends is while hiking. From discovering what nature has to offer to sharing moments when you need each other to accomplish certain goals along your trail, the time that you can spend together, without distractions, could end up being really magical. The bonding actually can start before you even get into the woods through your efforts to coordinate your hike. Prepare your gear together and enjoy the quiet of the earth. Believe it or not, those moments are spent meditating along your hike could help you to appreciate each other and be at one with your surroundings, and especially with your little honey. This activity could also be done with a small group of your brown girl’s friends.

Sharing and Caring Sisters – Invite your little one’s friends to a “Sharing and Caring Sisters” Party. Each person is tasked with bringing an item that they would like to give to someone else. They could also bring a favorite treat. The item should be something that has some meaning for them. The girls must write a little note with the item telling why, either with a picture or words, it means so much to them. At the party, they will have to present their item to another friend. After this activity, set up some activities in which they will be given a chance to show how they can work together to care for things, such as how to help a “hurt” doll or teach a friend how to do something at which they are good, like drawing a house or reading big words. They should also have an opportunity to tell each other what they most appreciate about being sisters and friends. The Sharing and Caring Sisters party should have an emphasis on importance of love, respect, and being there for each other, especially among “sister friends”.

Get started by checking out this new release!

Book Title: The Girlz of Galstanberry

Written for girls ages: 12 & up :-)

Brief description of book:

The Girlz of Galstanberry is a tween series that celebrates the diversity of girls around the United States. It specifically focuses on 5 girls—Brandi, Lillian, Fei, Tabitha, and Nisha—from different cities, socio-economic backgrounds and ethnic backgrounds that become accepted into Galstanberry Girls Academy, a prestigious boarding school in Connecticut. Their varied personalities lead to inevitable drama and internal conflicts. However, with each triumph and tribulation, the girls grow throughout the series, learning more about themselves and classmates.

Written by:

Garen S. Wolff

Brief bio:

Garen S. Wolff is a scientist, author and soon to be medical student at Indiana University School of Medicine! She attended Detroit Country Day, a prestigious private school from Kindergarten through high school. After graduation, Miss Wolff matriculated into Wellesley College, a private women’s college in Massachusetts. There, she received my B.A in Neuroscience, and then received a Masters of Science from Wayne State School of Medicine.

So, “Where does Galstanberry come in?”

Last year, Miss Wolff was a research fellow at the National Institute of Health in Washington D.C. After long days at the laboratory, she retreated to her apartment to just write. Miss Wolff reflected on her educational background and diverse friends and soon enough, The Girlz of Galstanberry was born. Every girl has a story to tell due to their geographic location, ethnicity, socio-economic status, family structure, etc. Therefore, she created The Girlz of Galstanberry to reflect these stories.

A lil’ sweet talk with the author:

SHC:  Why do you feel it is important to encourage girls to read?

Recently, I received an email from a reader saying she loved, The Girlz of Galstanberry, because it takes her to, “another place.” I think that’s a fantastic reason to read! Books not only encourage imagination, but also increase one’s vocabulary. Girls, especially middle schoolers, have a lot to deal with—cliques, self-esteem issues, pimples, just to name a few. Books like, The Girlz of Galstanberry, are not only a fun break from the drama of everyday life, but present opportunities for girls to reflect and learn more about themselves.

SHC: How does your book celebrate and or empower girls?

The Girlz of Galstanberry(GG) tells girls that it’s okay to still play with dolls, laugh at something funny and not someone’s misfortune, and be loyal to yourself. In a world where the media constantly barrages middle school-aged girls with adult issues, GG shares a different prospective: there is no rush to grow up, enjoy your middle-school years, and most importantly embrace who you are!

SHC: What makes your book a sweet summer read?

Galstanberry #2 is a ‘sweet’ summer read for 3 reasons:

1) Diversity—Racially, Geographically, & Socio-Economic Background

2)Rated : No foul language or content!

3) Inspires girls to be themselves

Many of our sweet daughters all over the world will proudly call themselves, “Daddy’s Little Girl” as they celebrate Father’s Day, June 19^th, with the most special man in their lives. For some, this Father’s Day may not be spent with their biological father, but with someone who is “like a father,” or a male relative such as a grandfather or uncle. No matter what his title, the role that a father figure plays in the life of a young girl has a significant impact on many of her decisions as she grows and seeks her life mate.

For those precious little girls that have positive father figures in their lives, they are so fortunate and are, no doubt, relishing every moment that they have with these exceptional men. There really is something magical about the bond between a father and his daughter. It is definitely love at first sight, and it is a relationship that can flourish as she learns that she can depend on him to be in her corner and for the guidance that only “Daddy” can give. It doesn’t negate the relationship that mothers and daughters will share, but it’s different and, for most little brown girls, just as valuable for their overall well-being.

You can help your honey celebrate the father or father-figure in her life with these activities:

1. Help her create a “Daddy-Daughter Diary.” This could be a little book that includes pictures of your little brown girl with the man who means the world to her. It would also include her artwork or expressions of the times that she has spent with him, and he would be able to write in the book as well. They could both journal their feelings for each other in the book.

2. Celebrate National Black Music Month throughout the month of June. Men will love sharing the music that they love with the little girl whom they totally adore. No matter how old the music is, she will enjoy dancing on Daddy’s toes, having a karaoke night together, or just learning about these talented artists and their music. Your sweet girl will benefit by the exposure that she will have to music that has historical value and is culturally relevant for her. Daddy could take things even further by helping his precious little one to choose an instrument that she may want to learn to play!

3. Daddies usually love sports and physical activity is a definite for a healthy honey child. So, encourage her father-figure to introduce her to his favorite sports or to explore a new, age-appropriate sport with her. From attending a game together to just sporting matching jerseys or t-shirts, there is tons of fun to be had when sports are involved. Daddy may even decide to take his interest in his little girl further by offering to coach or just volunteer with the team that she joins! They will be able to spend many memorable moments together and will, hopefully, have a ball in the process!

June could turn out to be one of the best months of both of their lives. Through shared interests and newfound learning opportunities, together your little girl and her father-figure could experience something amazing, and their bond could become even stronger.

Bee Day Club

Stay sweet!

The year is almost half over. Time really flies when you’re having fun! Here, at Sweet Honey Child, we are grateful that we have had the opportunity to share what, we hope, has been a treasure trove of insightful, educational, and family-friendly information with all of you.

May is Recommitment Month. As such, Sweet Honey Child is recommitting itself to all of our valued readers and the precious little ones in their lives by staying true to our original purpose and goal, which is to have a positive impact on the lives of others. Our team feels the biggest sense of accomplishment when we have provided you with a tip, project idea, or parenting strategy that is really relevant and that you find useful in effectively connecting with your little brown girl. That is truly at the heart of what we do.

This month is the perfect time to recommit yourself to that special girl in your life, to the relationship you are building with her, to the ideals you wish to impart to her, and to the goals the two of you have set for the time you spend together. We have included a few activities that we suggested in times past that would be great for helping you and your little sweetie to refocus, re-establish, and recommit:

Have you gotten around to planning and hosting a Mother-Daughter luncheon that has an African-American history theme? It doesn’t have to be African-American History Month for you to introduce your sweet honey to and keep her engaged with learning about her culture and rich heritage. While the theme of the luncheon would cover African-American topics, writings, clothing, foods, and people, its central focus would be to capitalize on the time that each mother and daughter pair would be spending together.

Did you and your beautiful girl set your goals and priorities for 2011 yet? There is plenty of time left in this year to create some objectives for your family and for yourselves, as individuals. You may be in a situation where you started off the year doing a certain activity, but maybe it has become less of a priority as the year has progressed. Each of you need to take ownership of your goals in order to achieve them. So, reclaim or re-establish your goals and you will surely have a majorly sweet and exciting time as you reach them…together!

Are you helping your little cupcake to understand and believe that she is perfect, inside and out, by simply being true to herself? Everyday, we should be committed to building and maintaining a healthy and positive self-esteem in our wonderful little girls. Part of what can contribute toward your success with this task is by promoting a healthy lifestyle, including encouraging an active lifestyle, eating foods that will keep her fit and beautiful, believing in her ability, and taking care of her body and mind so that she will have the energy and enthusiasm that she needs to go after all of her sweet dreams.

Helping your little honey to establish a positive self-image is one of the best things that you can do for her. February is Body Awareness Month. Even though the month is coming to an end, there is still time to acknowledge and celebrate body awareness. Plus, it is the anniversary of First Lady Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move” Campaign. That makes it the perfect time for impressing upon our brown girls, and us, the importance of respecting and loving our bodies. As we teach our young daughters to appreciate the beauty that is their body, we also need to encourage them to take steps to take care of their bodies so that they will enjoy a healthy and happy life. We want our girls to know that proper body care includes eating a balanced diet, getting regular amounts of exercise, and practicing good habits for personal hygiene and care.

To commemorate Body Awareness Month and the “Let’s Move” Campaign, we have a few tips for ways that you can help your little sweetie to tap into her inner strength and learn to totally love her own mind, body, and spirit:

1. Try yoga together. If you are new to it, the workout and  experience is sure to be different from other physical fitness activities that you may have tried in the past. Some of the benefits of yoga are its relaxing effects, minimal equipment needs and its spiritual element. Now, with its growing popularity, there are programs offered everywhere, including community and recreation centers.

2. Let your little sweetie pick out some healthy recipes that she would like to try. Then, together, plan to incorporate the recipes into a family meal. If the recipe calls for a vegetable that is new to your family, have her research it and find out how healthful it is for your bodies.

3. If  your little honey is starting to notice differences in her body and those of other girls around her, begin a dialogue with her about how our bodies change. Be very positive when you talk about her body, its uniqueness, and its beauty so that she, too, will understand that she does not ever have to compare her body to those of others. Tell her that every woman’s body is special, personal, and a work of art.

All girls deserve to feel wonderful about who they are. It’s their right! As their caregivers, we have a responsibility to foster a positive self-image in our little ones. In taking the focus off of weight or one body versus another, you are inspiring your sweetie to think of herself as not just a collection of parts, but as a total package.

From the sweet melodies of musicians to prestigious Ivy League educators, from world renowned artists to a world leading president, your little brown girl and all African-Americans have so many reasons to be proud. Black history is rich and characterized by accomplishment, strength, and a quest for equality for all people. In honor of the countless men and women of color who have been instrumental in helping to shape and mold the world that we live in today, we celebrate a month that is dedicated to each and every generation of African-Americans: Black History Month.
Here are a few ideas that you could use to make this special month even more engaging, exciting, and educational for your sweet little girl:

1. Make a date to visit an African-American History museum or historical site. Your precious honey will have an opportunity to learn about prominent African-Americans and their contributions to society. Some of these places even have areas specifically designed for children with games, books, and dress-up clothes to enhance their experience. Don’t forget about your local library. There are so many celebrated Black writers, from periods such as the Harlem Renaissance or even living authors who can serve as role models. She can get to know them by simply opening  a book.

2. Plan and host a Mother-Daughter luncheon that features traditional African-American foods. Whether you opt for a large or small affair, incorporate activities in the festivities such as poetry readings from the women and their little girls, a history fashion show chronicling clothing from the 1920s to modern attire. Since music and dance has been such a prominent aspect of Black culture, you must include some old sweet tunes.

3. Try not to shy away from the more serious topics of the Black experience. Your little honey should know about the struggles, the work that was done, and the ongoing efforts to continue the fight for justice and equality. Watch a Black History movie together and be sure to talk to her about what it all means and how other people’s actions affect her own life.

Black History Month can be an amazing time of year for personal discovery for your little brown girl. Make your talk all encompassing so that it includes the good and the hard-to-understand moments in our history. But, don’t let her foray into Black history last only for this month. Keep the celebration and educating going on throughout the year. Just think, if she doesn’t know about the struggles, how will she recognize and celebrate the sweet victories?

What: SHC is giving away our ‘Bee Sweet’ stationery sampler set to all participants of this first giveaway of 2011. The set will include writing sheets, envelopes, and stickers. It will arrive in time to compose some sweet notes for Valentine’s Day.

Who: We want to hear from the sweet honey child in your life.

How: Have your sweetie send us a handwritten letter using one of the following writing prompts:

I am beautifully sweet because…
I am a sweet  honey child because…
A sweet honey child is…

Suggestion: Get started by having a discussion with your little girl about inner-beauty and or the things about themselves that they love.

When: Write now! Starting January 15, 2011 to January 24, 2011. All letters should be postmarked on or before 1/24/11.

Where: Mail letters:
Sweet Honey Child
Write Fully Sweet #1
P.O. Box 4864
Oakland, CA 94605-6864
Be sure your little girl provides her full name, complete address, and age. If she is under the age of thirteen, a parent must sign the letter and include their email address.

Why: SHC is committed to creating products and opportunities that will help girls of African descent cultivate and maintain positive self-images.

This activity is intended to build writing skills, practice penmanship and improve self-concepts. It is a sweet finale to National Letter Writing week.

Special note: Information provided to us will not be sold or used for any other purpose outside of this giveaway. Please send any questions and or concerns to inquiries@sweet-honey-child.com.