Building self-esteem
Do you want to boost your child’s self-esteem? Use our practical articles and activities to help your daughter or son develop a positive body image, and worry less about how their looks compare with others.
Young people change enormously during adolescence, and sometimes their self-esteem suffers. As a parent, you want to help your child feel good about themselves, and having positive conversations about appearance is an important part of that.
You need to be tuned in to your child's changing needs, and help them develop an empowered attitude to their looks. You can also raise their confidence by discouraging them from comparing themselves with others, whether friends, classmates or people in the media.
Focusing on who they are as a person, and their relationships with family and friends, will reduce negative body talk. We’ve compiled these articles and activities to help your child make that shift – and to give you some ideas on how to support them.
So start reading and sharing today – and help boost your child's confidence.
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![The 'Dove Real Beauty Pledge']()
Dove invites all women to realize their personal potential for beauty by engaging them with products that deliver superior care. We believe that beauty should be a source of confidence and not anxiety. Dove inspires women to want to look like the best version of themselves – because looking and feeling your best makes you feel happier.
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In the dazzling world of social media, today’s youth are often living their lives in full view of an online audience. For those from a different generation, the idea of ‘checking in’ online or sharing a selfie to let people know where you are and what you're up to might seem bizarre. But for young people today, getting ‘likes’ on photos, posts or comments in the virtual world can bring a powerful sense of accomplishment and community acceptance.
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body image
self comparison
looks and appearance
self-esteem
8 to 16 years
Is your child's perception of beauty distorted by media influence?Explore how retouched images of models and celebrities alter perceptions of beauty, and how the media influences your self-esteem, with our tips and activities.Images of people in the media are manipulated so dramatically these days, that it can feel like 'beauty' is less and less attainable. Help your child resist media influence and see the real picture.
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![Uniquely Me]()
As a parent, it’s natural to want the best for your child – for them to be happy, healthy and confident individuals.
But that’s sometimes easier said than done, especially during the teen and pre-teen years when their bodies are changing, their self-confidence is fragile and they are trying to make that tricky transition out of childhood.
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Giving your child a compliment should be simple, but some young people have a tendency to take things the wrong way. To help your child understand when someone is genuinely admiring or praising them, share our Cracking Compliments video and action checklist with them.
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At Dove, we're committed to making beauty a source of confidence, not anxiety. That’s why we're a founding partner of the Be Real Campaign – a national movement formed in response to the Reflections on Body Image report from the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Body Image. Together, we are campaigning to change attitudes to body image, put health above appearance, and help all of us be confident in our bodies.
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Low body confidence can be hard to identify and even harder to address, which is why Dove is on a mission to help everyone support young people to be more body confident.
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New technology has made it easier for bullies to reach their victims. If you think your child is being affected, use our action checklist for advice on how to support and protect your child from cyberbullying.
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Music videos are increasingly sexualizing and objectifying women, as research from institutes including the American Psychological Association and the UK’s Home Office has shown. So we’ve put together an action checklist to help you start a conversation with your child about how women are portrayed in music videos.
