Like Mother, Like Daughter

If it feels like you and your daughter spend more time arguing over clothes and chores than laughing over a late-night movie, it might be time to break out of your typical routine and schedule some time for much-needed fun and bonding. Get ready for some girl time with these innovative activities, designed just for you and her.

Beyond textbooks and fairy tales, it is likely your daughter longs to lose herself in words that inspire and encourage imaginative thought. Foster a love for reading by creating a book club with her friends and their moms. Simply gather her friends together once a month to discuss a book the girls choose to read. Get to know her friends while sneaking a peak at her brilliant mind.

If your daughter prefers the dirt to books, Dr. John Duffy, author of The Available Parent, recommends joining a mother-daughter softball league. “I work with one mom and teenage daughter who are both very competitive, even with each other,” Duffy says. “They argued about who has the better batting average a couple of weeks ago.” Bring out that competitive spirit while gaining some exercise and quality time together.

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Reserving a designated day for mother-daughter time is important, especially for tweens and teens transitioning into independence. One mother-daughter duo activity to foster creativity and culture is a playdate at a theater. “I work with a mom and tween who protect one Sunday afternoon a month to see a play or musical, switching off on who gets to choose the production,” Duffy says. “It’s a great bonding idea.”

Continue bonding with your daughter by showing an interest in her favorite hobbies. If she is a graceful ballerina, enroll in a dance class together. Tap your way into her heart by taking a leap right beside her. “It’s important to share your favorite hobbies together and learn from each other,” says Dr. Nerina Garcia-Arcement, a New-York based clinical psychologist. “This way, you are working together as a team toward a mutual goal.”

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“Shared time communicates to sons and daughters that they matter and are valuable,” says Garcia-Arcement. Show your little wonder that she is a masterpiece by creating a work of art together. Get messy with your daughter by breaking out brushes, paints and the most vibrant colors. With a blank canvas at home or a local art studio, you and your daughter can work together drawing, sculpting, or painting gifts for each other or for a family member.

Once you’ve had a chance to get messy with your daughter, try cleaning up with a little pampering. There is nothing more calming than a day at the spa. Share the experience with your daughter by signing up for a mini vacation filled with manicured nails, pedicured toes and facial treatments designed to make you both feel like a princess.

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Even princesses need some fuel. Why not share your family’s famous recipes with your daughter with an impromptu cooking class? Break out the dough, spices and sprinkles, and let your daughter experiment with you in the kitchen. It’s not just about the food and fun, either. “Be creative,” says Dr. Fran Walfish, author of The Self-Aware Parent. “The key is to establish open, comfortable dialogue between you and your daughter.”

“Talking is the glue that holds relationships together,” says Walfish. Give yourself the opportunity to learn more about your daughter by helping others as a team. Volunteer together to chitchat with residents at a nursing home, or visit a children’s hospital to play games with patients. Collect for a food pantry, too. This experience will give you both something to talk about when reflecting on the rewards of sharing your talents with those in need.