March is Women’s History Month, and while we certainly don’t need an excuse to celebrate girls and women, this is the perfect opportunity for some bonding time with your kids or circle of friends! 

From history (HER-story) and heroes (SHEroes), to learning confidence and courage, this list has it all. Read on to learn how to celebrate Women’s History Month with an important someone in your life!

1. Learn the history of Women’s History Month
   While we know that girls and women (of all ages!) are AWESOME and should be celebrated every day, how did Women’s History Month become “a thing?” Luckily, Girls with Ideas came up with a great little list about the HER-story of our favorite month!
2. Listen to a girl power playlist
   Need to soak up some girl power? Blast some of our favorite tunes and party camp-style (a.k.a. dressed in costume and dancing with reckless abandon). Here are some of our favorite songs that inspire confidence and fun:
   – Girl in the Mirror – Sophia Grace Brownlee
   – Girl on Fire – Alicia Keys
   – How Far I’ll Go – Moana
   – Respect – Aretha Franklin
   – Shake It Off – Taylor Swift
   – Brave – Sara Bareilles
   – I Will Survive – Gloria Gaynor
   – Let It Go – Frozen
3. Support Women-Owned Businesses
   Show your support to fearless female leaders, entrepreneurs, and service providers. Small business owners in particular are struggling during this difficult time. If you can, buy a gift card to use at a later date, send your favorite business a message online to tell them why you appreciate them, and consider leaving a positive review on Yelp.
   If you don’t know any women-owned businesses in your area- now is the perfect time to hop on Google to find one! You may just discover a new favorite place.
4. Write a thank-you note to a woman who inspires you
   Take a moment to think about a girl or woman in your life who has made an impact on you (and have your child do the same). Then, write a letter or email to that person to let them know what they mean to you. Whether it’s your aunt, best friend, or your favorite female pop star, Senator, or business owner, there’s no better feeling than writing about the gratitude you have for their actions, words or inspiration. (and you’ll make their day when they read it!).
5. Write a love note to yourself
   Don’t forget to celebrate yourselves! Nothing is more empowering than self-love.
6. Watch a movie together about your favorite heroine.
   Here are some of our favorite movies that are by or about strong and courageous girls and women:
   – Hidden Figures (PG)
   The INCREDIBLE true story of three brilliant women at NASA during the Space Race of the 1960s. They served as the brains behind one of (wo)mankind’s greatest achievements: the launch of astronaut John Glenn into orbit.
   – Mulan (G)
   A Disney classic! We follow a girl who protects her family and learns how to be strong and courageous in every way. Bonus: the live-action remake is directed by a woman and will be out in theaters soon!
   – Matilda (PG)
   Matilda faces serious challenges in her life, but through her love of stories and some new-found special powers, she rises above them. Since its release in the 1996, this movie has inspired girls to dream big, read more, and speak out when they aren’t being treated fairly.
   – A League of Their Own (PG-13)
   “There’s no crying in baseball!” But actually, it’s ok to cry whenever and wherever you want (even in baseball). Following the true story of America’s first all-female baseball team, A League of Their Own grapples with topics like femininity and shows the power and importance of female friendships.
7. Spread Random Acts of Kindness
   Here are some ideas:
   – Write positive affirmations on post-it notes and leave them around your neighborhood for neighbors and friends to find.
   – Choose five people in your phone and send them each a positive text.
   – Make a gratitude list in the morning and then again in the evening.
   – Write a note to your child or family member and include a list of things you love about them (and have your child do the same for you)
8. Volunteer or donate to organizations that support girls. There are tons of great and deserving organizations to choose from. Here are just a few of our favorites:
   – Girls Who Code
   – The Malala Fund
   – Women for Women International
   – Girls Who Invest
   – Girls Write Now
9. Pick out an empowering bedtime reading book.
   Forget damsels in distress! It’s time to read about Damsels in Charge. Here are some great retellings of fairy tales about girls who save the day:
   – Interstellar Cinderella (ages 4-8)
   – The Curse of Maleficent: The Tale of Sleeping Beauty (ages 8-12)
   – Grounded: The Adventures of Rapunzel (ages 11+)
   – Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls (all ages)
10. Have an open conversation about modern issues that girls face.
11. Explore your family’s her-story
    – You know those old photos you’ve been meaning to go through? Dig through them with your kids and help them learn about family history. Bonus activity: spend some time together organizing those photos into albums or scrapbooks!
    – If you want to go deeper into your family’s history, sign up for a site like Ancestry.com or 23andMe. You never know what incredible stories you’ll find in your own family tree.
    – Have your child interview a woman in their life (grandmother, aunt, family friend) to learn about the issues women faced in their time, the amazing accomplishments they may have achieved, or even just to hear some interesting stories.  (Bonus … you can ALSO interview a woman in your life. You’ll be amazed at the stories you learn!)