This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Stonyfield® Organic YoKids®.  

The other day Kaya shocked me. She said “I can’t” before trying something at soccer and it was very surprising because she usually will try enthusiastically, or if she’s not in the mood, just say a straight-faced “no” with zero explanation. (Some grown women need to learn how to do that, amirite?) Her coach, whose nickname is KaiKai too btw, told her “There is no can’t, but there is a try. Can you try?” Kaya nodded, and then did the move her coach was teaching her. Badly, wobbly, but she did it. And she turned back to look at us on the sidelines with the most proud little face.

It’s my goal to raise Kaya to be a strong and healthy girl. It starts early. Here are a few of the things we’re doing:

Teaching Her to Speak Up

Well…I don’t know if I can take credit for this. Speaking up seems to come naturally for Kai. She can be shy at times, but she is very good about speaking up about her body, her desires and her belongings. (Did I ever tell you about that time she screamed “You can’t touch my private parts!” in the pediatrician’s face?)

I want my daughter to know her voice and use it well. She is growing up fast and I encourage her to use her words and help her with descriptive words to build her vocab to express exactly how she feels and what she wants. I dare someone to call her bossy.

 

Enrolling Her in Sports with Boys

We debated putting Kaya in dance, gymnastics or a sport like soccer, touch football or Tball. We asked her what she wanted to do and she chose soccer. (I’m sure I’ll be putting her in dance and a martial art later as well, though.) Rohan wanted to do soccer as well, so they’re in the same team. Kaya is the only girl. At 3, she’s the smallest. She’s the youngest. And she holds her own! The 4, 5, 6 year olds are not gentle with her because she’s a girl. I love that her coach is a woman too. #girlpower! Kaya is getting faster, stronger, and more resilient through her soccer lessons.

Teaching Her Healthy Eating Habits

Kaya doesn’t have a sweet tooth. She has a mouth full of sweet teeth. Constantly asking for candy and cookies, etc. I teach her as much as I can about eating healthy, and while I do give in and give her sweets, she also gets a lot of green veggies, meat, healthy carbs and healthy snacks too.

John and I are very lucky in that anything sweet (grapes, yogurt, bananas) will usually satisfy her sweet tooth (although sometimes, it MUST be a cookie – hey, I get it Kai.)

We have been relying a lot on Stonyfield® Organic YoKids® yogurts. Rohan gets them in his lunchbox, and both he and Kaya get them after soccer or when we’re heading out to run errands. Not only do they have less sugar than other kids yogurt brands (20-40% less!), but the fact that they are organic are and non GMO Project Verified is a bonus! and it makes my life easy because I’ve got the cups to give them when they’re home watching TV, pouches to throw in Rohan’s lunchbox for school, and the squeezers (pictured above) to keep their mouths occupied, and my car quiet, when we’re on the road.

What are you doing to raise a strong and healthy kid?

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Stonyfield® Organic YoKids®.