Dove Kids

Parent checklist

  • 1

    Celebrate what makes them unique

    How are they different from you and other people? Talk about how everybody has unique abilities and qualities that make human beings fascinating

  • 2

    Try positive affirmations

    Try positive affirmations and frame them as their super powers. Here are some examples to get you started: “I am thoughtful, caring and fun!” or “I am awesome, brave and strong!”

  • 3

    Create a bedtime ritual

    Create a bedtime ritual where you take a moment to say why you’re grateful for your bodies and what they’ve done for you that day

  • 4

    Avoid complimenting them on their appearance

    If other people comment on your child’s appearance you can try reframing the message to focus on things other than appearance

  • 5

    Focus on healthy behaviors

    Frame healthy behaviour as fun activities for the whole family e.g. family walks in nature, or eating a more colorful, diverse range of foods

  • 6

    Resist automatic responses

    If your child is saying that they are ‘too fat/short/dark/ugly’, try to resist telling them that they aren’t. This sends the message that certain appearances are inherently ‘bad’, and implies that changing your appearance is good. Instead, reframe them as a positive with phrases like “fat is not a bad thing, it’s essential to keeping us warm and storing energy so we can live”

  • 7

    Boost confidence with free resources

    Provide them with confidence-boosting content like the Steven Universe episodes and e-book created by Cartoon Network and the Dove Self-Esteem Project which talk about topics such as Body Functionality, and have been shown to promote positive body image in kids6


Related articles