Most involved Dads know what their kids’ favorite book is…it’s the one they want read to them over and over.

But when my daughter read “You’ll Always Be Enough” by herself and then insisted that she read it to me…I knew it must be a winner. She was right. Great book. (And I have to say I was impressed by how close she came to actually sounding out the word silhouette by herself.)

Teaching your daughter about positive self body image and showing her how to find her purpose can be tricky but author Laura Keuhl pens an inviting and subdued story that deals with those heady topics. Just as important, the whimsical illustrations by Piere d’Arterie complement the lyrical text. It’s an entertaining read that lends itself to a pattern and rhythm your daughter will enjoy.

After reading it for the second time, I asked Grace (who is 7 years old) what she thought. Here’s what she had to say.

“I liked everything about it,” she said. “At first the animals didn’t want to be what they were but then they saw that it was good.”

(Insert great opportunity to talk to your daughter about her own self image and point out her positive traits.)

“I really liked the last part because all of the stuffed animals in the little girls bed were the ones in the book,” she added. (Another opportunity to talk to her by using the stuffed animals in her room as characters.)

See? Entertaining and chock full of ways to open that line of communication with your girl(s). It gets better. 10% of net profits from the book’s sales go directly to organizations working with kids. It’s totally DDT recommended. Here’s a link for you to get a copy for your family.

I could tell you that after my daughter’s first day of horse camp that I was not on all fours with a pink feather boa being used as reins to lead me around her play room…but of course that wouldn’t be true. It was some quality Daddy Daughter Time. She gave me a crash course on how to navigate a “horse” around and I remembered why I really appreciate the thick padding under the carpet.

Peanut showing off his moves at Karin’s Horse Connection

While it may have been a spur of the moment decision (see what I did there?) to take her to this camp over Spring Break, it was an easy choice on where to go. Karin’s Horse Connection was the location of our DDT Derby and they didn’t waste any time getting the campers up and riding… which they did every day of Own-A-Horse-Camp.

But the experience my daughter received was much more than pony rides. She learned about grooming, the time and investment it takes to own a horse, mucking the stalls, and more in this hands-on camp that truly gives those interested in horses a true look at the work that goes in to all of that fun.

I “interviewed” Grace after each day. Here’s what we learned.

Day One:  As previously mentioned, Grace learned the basics parts of a horse and how to make it go where you want it to go. More importantly, how to make it stop. Also, barn kittens. There were a handful of them there and it was pretty much a tie between them and riding a horse for a highlight of the first day.

Day Two: Horses like to eat… a lot. Grace told me that you have to stop them from trying to nibble at everything they see and that “takes a lot of muscles.” Barn Kitten Update: A couple were sold/given away. There are only 3 left.

Day Three: Brush, brush, ribbit?  If you think having a daughter means owning numerous hairbrushes, you should try owning a horse. Grace explained and drew pictures of all of the different tools she used to groom the horses. Curry combs, dandy brushes, and more….and they have to be used in a certain order. Grace loves styling hair so this was a big day for her. Also, I learned that you use a hoofpick to clean a horse’s frog. Don’t know where a horse’s frog is? You should check out the summer camp sessions and find out.

Day Four: Alert! There is only one kitten left. The pleas to take it home have graduated from subtle to repetitive. In today’s interview, I asked Grace if she was cleaning out the stables. (“It’s mucking the stalls, Dad.”) When I followed up to learn if she’d had to pick up any “horse apples,” she laughed and said “Oh yeah. We’ve got a bucket full of them every day.” Then a small swelling of pride in me knowing that my girl’s not afraid to get her hands dirty.

Day Five: Today Grace learned that horses can be used for many purposes…including therapy. Peanut, a miniature therapy horse at the farm, was on his way to the Kroc Center for an appearance. There was a packet of small quizzes and coloring sheets completed, more riding, chores, snacks…and then the certificate and ribbon presentations for completing the course. Final kitten update: There’s still one there if you’re interested. 😉

Last thoughts: When I first heard the words “horse camp,” I was wondering if it would just be a week full of riding.

Thankfully, Karin’s Horse Connection’s Own-A-Horse Camp is much more than that. It really did show our daughter how much time and work goes into owning a horse. They did the chores, put in the time, and even learned a few vaulting moves. (That’s basically acrobatic gymnastics while riding a horse. I know, crazy right?)

She’s already asked to do it again this summer. You should join us! Here’s a link to their Summer Camp sessions.

 Daddy Daughter Time is proud to announce its partnership with Girls Can! Crate. We are all about giving Dads plenty of options when it comes to spending time with their daughters and this monthly service is an incredibly effective way to show your girl(s) examples of how women have helped shape the world.

And it is fun!

Grace and I got a kit to play around with and she loved it! One of our favorite activities were the story cubes game where we constructed and then rolled three large dice covered in pictures. We then imagined a story from beginning to end using whatever showed up on the dice. Good times!

Every month, subscribers receive a kit that showcases an example of a fearless female role model to help show your daughter that she can be and do anything! In the kit, you’ll find an Activity Book with two or three activities related to that month’s female role model’s field, some high quality props, and STEAM activities to help stimulate her sense of discovery. You’ll get the goods on role models including Marie Curie, Bessie Coleman, Irena Sendler, Florence Nightingale, Patsy Mink, Malala, and more.

You won’t find any makeup or glitter. These boxes don’t reinforce gender stereotypes…but rather blow them up. Young girls need to see what they can be and Girls Can! Crates do the trick. Here’s an excerpt from their website: 

“Did you know that when Bessie Coleman was told she couldn’t become a pilot in America, she taught herself French, sailed across the ocean, and became the first American to earn an International Pilot’s License? Or that Patsy Mink was rejected from 20 medical schools because she was female, so she became a congresswoman and wrote Title IX to end gender discrimination in educational programs? How amazing is that?!”

It’s that type of inspiration these kits can provide. You can order a month to month plan or save money by ordering a 3, 6, or 12 month plan.

IMPORTANT: If you decide to purchase these kits, you can also help out Daddy Daughter Time! When you check out at www.girlscancrate.com, enter the code DADDYDAUGHTERTIME (all one word) at checkout and they will donate $4 for each subscription to us. We’ll take that money and spend it on more events for you and your girls to attend. Win/win.

Please share this with any parent you know that may enjoy these types of monthly kits. We can’t say enough good things about them. 🙂