Manhattan Toy Company (ARA) - Every mom knows that parenting girls can be a daunting task, especially around the holidays when their gift lists contain music, dolls and teen queen merchandise that may not be age appropriate. However, there are gifts this holiday season that help moms give their daughters more than just a toy.

Savvy Mommy Victoria Pericon, mother of three and editor of SavvyMommy.com, offers a few ways to empower girls to be expressive and self-assured.

* Help your daughter learn to make good choices.
Making good choices takes practice. Offer your daughter the option of choosing a small stocking stuffer or leaving her stocking empty in favor of your making a donation to the charity of her choice. Explain the benefits and pitfalls of either decision, and then respect her choice. This gives her confidence to make decisions about the tough stuff later on.

* Encourage your daughter to express herself.
Listen to your daughter, her ideas and opinions to show respect and encourage individuality. Discuss age-appropriate current events in the car on the way to do holiday shopping. Provide opportunities to develop and practice different skills to help build her confidence. The more self-assured she is, the easier it will be for her to speak her mind.

* Make helping others an important part of your lives.
Provide plenty of opportunities to make a difference in your community. Make a list, and for each option explain exactly who she would be helping and why. Then let her decide which causes are most important to her.

One doll, Groovy Girls RSVP (ManhattanToy.com), was specifically designed to provide girls with an easy opportunity to give back to their community during playtime. Dressed in their party best, each doll includes a special password to access RSVP parties and features on the Groovy Girls RSVP Web site. While completing RSVP online activities, girls earn points toward making a doll donation to a girl in need through the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program.

* Actively search for good role models.
There are plenty of opportunities for children to find less-than-ideal role models. Consciously point out positive examples of women, both celebrities and the everyday women in your lives, and explain why you think they're good examples. Arrange a special holiday brunch with a female friend or relative and give books by female authors about girls who do great things.

* Be your daughter's personal cheering section.
We all like reassurance and your daughter is no exception. With positive reinforcement, it's easier for her to decide which actions are good and which aren't. Be the positive voice in your daughter's life.

For more information and tips on parenting girls, visit Moms.GroovyGirls.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent