Help your child develop a positive body image

19 May '20
5
min read

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.

If your child is chasing fashion and appearance trends, use our action checklist to show them that following fashion doesn’t have to mean changing who they are.

I think that giving kids the freedom to find their own style is essential. It’s one of the earliest forms of expression, creativity and personal choice they have.

Sonja, mum to 11-year-old Caitlin

Nurture your child’s self-image

If your child is showing growing curiosity about style and appearance, nurture this experimentation rather than being afraid of it. The greater sense they have of their own style, the less they will look to outside influences.

Sonja, mum to 11-year-old Caitlin, agrees: “I think that giving kids the freedom to find their own style is essential. It’s one of the earliest forms of expression, creativity and personal choice they have.”

Share your own fashion mistakes

“When I think of some of my own haircuts and outfits over the years, I want to climb into a hole, but it’s all a part of growing up and finding out who you are,” laughs Sonja.

It’s normal – and harmless – for your child to experiment with looks and trends. Nurture their own sense of style and foster their creativity through self-expression. Remind them that the latest fashion for a certain body image will change and they needn’t be a slave to the current image of perfection.

Today’s trends, tomorrow’s cosmetic surgery problems

A shocking 47% of girls aged 11-21 believe the way they look holds them back, and two-thirds of those aged 17-plus think they are not pretty enough, according to Girlguiding UK's Girls' Attitudes Survey 2016 (PDF) (2.1MB)🔗. So it's perhaps unsurprising that so many girls consider drastically and permanently altering their appearance. 

If your child seems drawn to the idea of cosmetic surgery, remind them that while trends for body features change, surgery is permanent. Discuss the possible health risks and dampen their curiosity by sharing photos of patients post-op, which may help them understand the pain and suffering involved.

To protect privacy we’ve changed the names of the people whose stories we tell on these pages. But the stories are genuine.

  • 1
    Acknowledge the changes they’re experiencing

    Be open about their developing body. Remind them that they still have many changes to go through – even post-adolescence – and what they see in the mirror now will alter in the future

  • 2
    Give them some context

    Look at styles that were popular a few years ago and ask them if they would want to look like that now. Discuss how rapidly trends change

  • 3
    Share your own teen fashion mistakes

    Tell them how you looked and dressed at their age, and have a giggle together at some old photographs

  • 4
    Help them embrace their journey of change

    Attractiveness comes in many different shapes and sizes, and they should look forward to discovering what theirs will be. Encourage them to experiment with their clothes and hair to develop their own sense of style – and to learn from making a few mistakes

next steps

  • Share this activity spotting faked photos of 'perfect' appearances. It will help them explore 'ideal' body image and the media's influence on us in a fun and interactive way
  • Keep talking to your child about their personal style and how it's evolving
  • Think about role models – is there anyone you both admire for their unique style? 

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