Ruth Urrutia

Through positive messages, creative activities, reflection, and encouragement, we can help children learn to love who they are today while becoming more confident in who they are growing to be.

Our youth are surrounded by so many different messages every day. If we want them to grow in confidence, kindness, self-worth, and purpose, we have to make sure we are also putting something positive in their hands.

As adults, we all have a part to play. Purchase a positive book. Give a child an encouraging journal. Share something that reminds them that they matter, that they are capable, and that they can grow into who they were made to be.

Children cannot benefit from positive messages they are never introduced to. Let Go and Grow was created to give young people a positive space to think, reflect, express themselves, and build confidence from within.

Let's do our part. Give a child something positive to read, see, hold onto, and grow from.

As an early childhood educator with many years of experience working with children and families, I have seen firsthand how much our youth need encouragement, guidance, confidence, and positive influences in their lives.

Every day, our children are exposed to so many different messages. If we want them to grow in kindness, confidence, self-worth, and purpose, then we have to intentionally place something positive in front of them.

I am simply trying to do my part.

Purchase a positive book. Give a child an encouraging journal. Share something that reminds them that they matter, that they are capable, and that they can grow into who they were made to be.

Children cannot benefit from positive messages they are never introduced to.

Let Go and Grow is one way I am trying to make a difference by giving children a positive space to think, reflect, express themselves, and build confidence from within.

I am asking other adults to join me. Let's all do our part.

We may not be able to change everything overnight, but if each of us does a little—encourages one child, gives one positive message, shares one helpful resource, or places something uplifting into a child's hands—we can make a difference.

Together, we can help change the future of our youth, one child at a time.

Let's Do Our Part for Our Children

As an early childhood educator who has spent many years working with children and families, I find myself asking a question more and more often:

What can we do differently for our children?

We are seeing so much hurt, anger, confusion, and pain among young people today. Sometimes it can feel overwhelming. And instead of only asking, "What is wrong with our children?" maybe we also need to ask, "What are our children missing from us?"

Are we talking to them enough?

Are we listening to them?

Are we teaching them kindness, patience, self-control, compassion, and respect?

Are we putting positive things in front of them that remind them of their worth?

Children cannot hold on to messages they have never been given.

That is one reason I created Let Go and Grow. Not because I believe one book can solve every problem, but because I believe we all have to start somewhere—and this is one way I am trying to do my part.

Maybe your part is giving a child a positive book.

Maybe it is sitting down and having a real conversation.

Maybe it is mentoring a young person, encouraging a mother, supporting a teacher, volunteering in your community, or simply telling a child, "I see you. I believe in you. You matter."

Sometimes I think we need to bring back a little of that old-school connection—the sitting together, the talking, the teaching, the checking in, and the adults in a community looking out for the children around them.

Our children need more than correction when something goes wrong. They need guidance before it goes wrong.

They need positive examples.

They need something good placed in their hands, their minds, and their hearts.

And to the women listening today: never underestimate your influence. Whether you are a mother, grandmother, aunt, educator, mentor, businesswoman, neighbor, or friend, there may be a child watching how you live, how you speak, how you treat others, and how you handle difficult moments.

We may not be able to change everything at once.

But we can change something.

We can encourage one child.

We can have one conversation.

We can introduce one positive message.

We can plant one good seed.

And when enough of us decide to do our part, those small seeds can grow into something much greater.

So I am asking all of us:

Let's pay attention. Let's listen. Let's encourage. Let's teach. Let's give our children something positive to grow from.

Because if we want a better future, we have to help nurture the children who will one day create it.

Let's do our part—one child, one positive message, and one seed at a time.