Five Reasons Why Dora the Explorer is a Strong Role Model for Girls

If she were human, she'd be at or near the top of both the Forbes 100 Most Powerful Women and 20 Richest Women in Entertainment lists. Instead, Dora the Explorer will have to settle for being today's most popular cartoon character. According to a February 2007 press release, Dora the Explorer has already had $5.3 billion in retail sales during her five years of existence and was the top selling toy license in 2006. But Dora the Explorer isn't just a role model for girls in her business acumen - she personifies other traits which help girls to thrive in life. So what is the secret to her success? Here are five reasons why Dora the Explorer is a great role model for girls (which should make you feel better about buying all of those Dora toys for your kids):

1. Dora the Explorer is helpful: Dora the Explorer works with her backpack, map and trusty pal Boots in order to help others who are in trouble. Her adventures typically revolve around aiding others who have gotten into some sort of trouble - she and the rest of her team quickly come to a plan of an action to assist whoever is in a jam.

2. Dora the Explorer is courteous: Instead of fighting with Swiper the Fox when he tries to take something that he shouldn't, Dora the Explorer simply tells him "no" and he respects her so much that he listens. These good manners are often not seen by children today as many shows feature violent or aggressive characters.

3. Dora the Explorer is a risk taker: Dora the Explorer isn't afraid to venture into unchartered territory in order to help her friends. However, she also takes smart risks, working with the rest of her team in her adventures instead of trying to solve tough problems on her own.

4. Dora the Explorer is loyal: Dora the Explorer has strong relationships with her family (which includes her parents, her baby brother and sister, her grandmother, and her cousin Diego) and her many friends. She takes great pride in these relationships and is always looking out for her family members, as shown when she took food to her sick grandmother and looked out for her brother and sister.

5. Dora the Explorer respects diversity: Dora the Explorer speaks both English and Spanish, which helps her to succeed in her adventures as often those she meets along the way only speak Spanish. She values her multinational background and openly shares her heritage with others.