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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development
self confidence
emotions and behaviour
communication
teaching
dove phrases
8 to 16 years
Be Real: the campaign for body confidenceThe Dove Self-Esteem Project & Be Real Campaign support parents & teachers to increase self worth in teens & young women, helping them feel more body confidentAt 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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development
media image
self confidence
emotions and behaviour
communication
11 to 16 years
Show your child the benefits of exerciseAs well as boosting teen fitness, exercise is great for teen mental health, self-confidence and body image. Use our advice and tips to get your child movingThe benefits of exercise go far beyond the physical. Discover the scientific facts about the positive link between exercise and body image, and give your child the exercise bug, with our action checklist.
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development
media image
self confidence
emotions and behaviour
communication
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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media image
self confidence
emotions and behaviour
communication
11 to 16 years
How to stop cyberbullying and protect your child from its effectsCyberbullying facts, advice on how to prevent cyberbullying, tips for dealing with cyberbullies for parents.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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development
media image
self confidence
emotions and behaviour
communication
8 to 16 years
How to build confidence and self-esteemLearn how to build self-esteem and confidence – and help your child learn to love their body in the process – with our practical tips and activities.If you suffer from low confidence and self-esteem, your negativity could have a knock-on effect on your child. Use our action checklist to cut out self-criticism – and give your child’s body confidence a boost, too.
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![Positive body image]()
media image
self confidence
emotions and behaviour
communication
11 to 16 years
Help your child develop a positive body imageTips and advice on helping your child develop a positive body image & cope with the influence of teenage fashion trends, celebrity role models & the media.Why is it that ‘the latest look’ is often nothing like people actually are in the real world? What look did you hanker after growing up? Trends may move on, but young people’s aspiration – and anxiety – is timeless.
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media image
self confidence
emotions and behaviour
communication
teaching
8 to 16 years
What is low body confidence?Dove is helping parents & teachers support young people to be more body confident, with body image articles, advice & confidence tips to fight low self-esteem.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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development
media image
self confidence
communication
11 to 16 years
Women in music videos: press pause on female stereotypesHelp your child challenge the 'perfect' body shape and stereotypes of women they see in music videos – and boost their body confidence in the process.Music videos are increasingly sexualising 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.
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media image
self confidence
emotions and behaviour
communication
11 to 16 years
Celebrity culture: sorting reality from hyper-realityIs your child obsessed with celebrities or reality shows? Use our action checklist to counter celebrity influence and help them develop a healthy self-image.Young people today are surrounded by a celebrity culture that's hard to compete with and could have a negative impact on their self-image. Celebrity influence is everywhere, from style magazines to Twitter, Snapchat, the world of 'reality' TV and airbrushed images. How is your child coping?
