The evidenced-based resources on this site have been specifically designed to encourage young people to develop and maintain a healthy body image during the transition to adulthood.
In a world that constantly tells young people how they should look and has a narrow definition of 'beautiful', how can we help them value their unique beauty and stay true to themselves?
Working with experts from the fields of psychology, health and media, the Dove Self-Esteem Project has developed a range of resources – including videos, activities, case studies and professional advice – to help guide parents and teenagers.
As well as helping you understand how your daughter or son is feeling, our materials will help you counter the negative influence of the media and bullying on young people's body image.
Research shows that spending just 30 minutes engaging with the resources on this site will empower you to boost the self-esteem and mood of the young person you love – and improve your own body image, too. So what are you waiting for?
Top Tips for Parents on Building your Child's Self-Esteem
1. Love yourself
Have you ever found yourself looking in the mirror and frowning, or moaning about how you look? You may not even realise you’re doing it, but your daughter probably will. It’s not easy to change the way you look at yourself, but the good news is that a few techniques can help you create better feelings towards your body and, in turn, your daughter will pick up on your positivity.
2. Less fat talk, more fun talk
By focusing less on weight and body shape in your conversations, greetings and compliments, you can break the habit of reinforcing beauty stereotypes. If your friend picks up a new sport, try asking them how it makes them feel rather than how much weight they’ve lost.
3. Beauty in the Media
Encourage your child to understand that media images are frequently manipulated, and rarely representative of reality. Your child can start to see through them and realise that it’s not worth comparing the way they look to the unrealistic images in the media.
4. Celebrate the 'Real Me'
Unlock your daughter’s inner beauty by encouraging her to express her self-confidence. Download the full parent’s guide for activities you can do with your child to celebrate their inner beauty and build their self confidence.
talking topics
social media safety
self comparison
self-esteem
health and wellbeing
parent
11 to 16 years
digital distortion
talking topics
looks and appearance
teaching
mentor
youth leader
teacher
parent
8 to 16 years
It's a shocking fact that eight out of 10 girls are so concerned about body image that they opt out of important life activities.
That’s why we’re on a mission to ensure the next generation grows up enjoying a positive relationship with the way they look.
social media safety
self comparison
looks and appearance
self-esteem
parent
11 to 16 years
Arguably the biggest difference between our own teenage years and those of our children, social media is here to stay. So how do we help our young people use it in a positive way?
peer pressure
social media safety
looks and appearance
behaviour change
parent
11 to 16 years
Social media issues permeate every aspect of a young person’s life these days, whether it’s revealing TMI (Too Much Info) about their boyfriend or girlfriend on Snapchat, having public spats with their BFF (Best Friend Forever) on Twitter or inadvertently inviting gatecrashers by posting party details on Facebook.
positive talk
talking topics
female stereotypes
role models
body image
looks and appearance
self-esteem
psychology
behaviour change
parent
8 to 16 years
Talking about our bodies is like an unwritten rule in female friendship – many of us do it constantly and automatically: "I feel fat in these jeans," "I’ve put on so much weight," or "Gosh, my skin looks awful today." Talking about your looks might seem like a way to bond with your child and friends, but it’s worth considering what effect it could have.
body image
behaviour change
puberty
parent
8 to 16 years
The ups and downs of growing up can leave parents confused, and their daughters bewildered. Every girl’s experience of puberty is different, but this tumultuous time can be easier if you understand what's going on beneath the surface.
positive talk
talking topics
female stereotypes
celebrity culture
fashion
body image
looks and appearance
parent
8 to 14 years
Worried that all your daughter ever sees in magazines and on screen are unrealistic images of ‘perfect’ women? Our fun activity plan will let you both give the stereotypes a makeover.