Help your child defy body trends and develop body confidence
6
min read
The body we’re born with is the body we have with us for the rest of our life. So, it’s important we teach young people to appreciate their bodies and speak to themselves with kindness. To help children overcome the pressures of ever-evolving body trends, we’ve put together a checklist for you to use when talking to them about beauty standards and body confidence.
The ever-evolving ‘perfect’ body shape
From the beauties shown in Renaissance paintings to the hourglass ladies prized by the Victorians, there have always been changing fashions in body shape. And now, body image and social media go hand in hand as the latest body trends can spread around the globe within hours. It’s no wonder impressionable young people may find themselves overwhelmed by images of the latest 'ideal'.
Body shaming and unrealistic beauty standards
The problem is that these beauty standards are unrealistic and unachievable. Worryingly, trends for 'statement' body parts often promote thinness at the expense of healthiness, and encourage young people to become fixated on one part of their body instead of looking after their wellbeing as a whole. Plus, as with all photos these days, it can be tricky to tell whether the images fuelling these standards have been edited.
Comparing and competing
Wondering how social media affects body image? Social media has introduced a new level of competitiveness into body-shape trends, with people keen to get 'likes', 'shares' and approving comments on their selfies. And if young people are struggling to achieve the look they aspire to, there's no end of websites, blogs and video tutorials that promise to help them along the way. The internet is full of 'thinspiration' sites and apparent quick-fixes that can negatively affect children’s mental and physical wellbeing.
Building body confidence
Young people are undergoing huge, often overwhelming, physical and emotional changes, so it's not surprising their body confidence can be easily knocked. It's important we keep reminding our children that people come in all kinds of different shapes and there's no such thing as the ‘perfect’ body.
If you’re looking for tips on how to build body confidence in children, here are some of our best pointers:
1
Talk to your child
Find out how they feel about their changing body. Which parts do they like most and which parts, if any, are they struggling with?
2
Acknowledge their body-image concerns
If your child is worried about an aspect of their appearance, be careful not to dismiss or belittle their concerns.
3
Be mindful of your language
When you talk about people, whether in the media or your community, avoid making comments – especially negative ones – about their appearance.
4
Help them see the bigger picture
Bodies are amazing. They enable us to run, dance, swim and climb and they may serve us for 80, 90, or even 100 years. We think that’s worth celebrating with all the body positivity in the world.
5
Talk openly about their social media
While respecting their privacy, gently ask them to explain the kind of accounts they follow. Why do they like them? What sort of images and messages are they sharing? And do their posts influence your child's?
Find a real body challenge. Forget thin thighs – encourage your child to achieve something worthwhile with their body, whether it’s a feel-good hike or bike ride, or a charity run or swim. Perhaps there's something you could do together?
Seek out body-positive role models. Talk about people you both admire for their body confidence – whether in your extended family, the local community or the public eye
Give them a sense of perspective. Encourage your child to get involved in something positive, such as volunteering, a paid job, a creative project or a new hobby, to broaden their horizons and help them see that the shape of their thighs or abs doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things
Find out how the Dove Self-Esteem project is helping young people reach their full life potential by delivering quality body confidence and self-esteem education.
Teaching materials on body-image and the media – activities, videos and worksheets to help boost young people's body confidence and improve their self-esteem
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