Here’s a personal story. As the mother of three daughters, it has always been important to me that they see themselves as able to do whatever they want with their lives. One way I have done that is by choosing women professionals when reasonable. So naturally, they went to a female pediatrician. One day when my youngest was about 4, we came out of the pediatrician and she said, “I thought we were going to see the doctor.”

To which I responded, “We just did. What do you mean?”

And she said, “We saw a nurse. Doctors are men.”

I blame TV. But anyway, the point is that even when we are aware of sexist perceptions, they still creep in. So Women’s History Month is a great way to keep showing our kids that men and women both contribute to society.

I have been poking around and finding a few women that might interest kids. Kid Lit, http://kidlitwhm.blogspot.com/ has a list of books by female authors that can lead to a fun afternoon at the library or snuggling on the couch. National Geographic Kids, http://tinyurl.com/4kdml66 has a page highlighting three important woman pioneers which will interest kids with more of a scientific bent. And She Knows, http://tinyurl.com/lyneb7f has a page with profile of many women in American History who are some of my personal heroes.

Au pairs can share famous women from the history of their own country. Did you know the Presidents of Brazil and Germany are both women?

Boys and girls both can gain from a better understanding of women’s historical contributions!