Expert resources for parents and mentors to help raise young people’s self-esteem
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.
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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 child 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?
Learn at Home with Confident Me
Help a young person you know while they learn at home through confidence-boosting mini lessons and self-esteem activities.
Download hereOur Topics
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Family, Friends & Relationships
Articles and activities to help parents communicate with children & offer support with friendship problems, sibling relationships, and body image7 -
Respecting & Looking After Yourself
Articles, activities, and relationship advice for parents to help their teenage child overcome low self-esteem and build body confidence during the stages of puberty6 -
Teasing & Bullying
Information on bullying and different types of bullying, such as bullying in school and cyberbullying, including why bullies bully and how to help stop bullying61 -
Talking About Appearance
Discover how appearance affects self-esteem, and help your teenager deal with the effects of social media, peer pressure, media ideals, fat talk, and more101
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(50 articles )
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![Dove Body talk and self-esteem in kids]()
family
talking topics
body image
body confidence
looks and appearance
body talk
self-esteem
parent
3 to 9 years
Body talk and positive body image for kidsWe’re talking body talk and how to build positive body image in kids – join us.If you’re wondering how to build self-esteem in children, find out more about body talk, being a role model and boosting confidence.
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![Dove Words of encouragement: how you can support your child]()
parenting
mother-daughter relationships
generation gap
parent
11 to 16 years
Words of encouragement: how you can support your childDo you offer your child words of wisdom and encouragement? It could encourage them to open up, strengthen your parent-child bond, and boost their self-esteem.Life can feel lonely for teenagers. Have you considered writing a message of support to your child about being a teenager? Sharing your own experiences, words of wisdom, and encouragement can help you empathize with them and improve your conversations.
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![Dove Media and celebrities]()
celebrity culture
media image
body image
mentor
youth leader
teacher
parent
8 to 16 years
Steven Universe: Media and celebritiesEpisode 3 talks about how media and celebrity culture can affect self-esteem.Is your children’s body image affected by media? The Dove Self-Esteem Project, Steven Universe and Cartoon Network have come together to help.
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![Dove Competing and comparing looks]()
body image
self comparison
self-esteem
mentor
youth leader
teacher
parent
8 to 16 years
Steven Universe: Competing and comparing looksEpisode 2 helps explain how not to compare yourself to others.What is body confidence? And how can you show kids how to develop a positive body image? Steven Universe is here to help.
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![Dove Teasing and bullying]()
bullying
self-esteem
mentor
youth leader
teacher
parent
8 to 16 years
Steven Universe: Teasing and bullyingThis episode shows why you shouldn’t bully and teaches young people how they can stand up against bullying.Why do bullies bully? And how can we teach young people to take a stand against bullying? We’ve partnered with Steven Universe to show children how to cope with bullying.
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![Dove Steven Universe]()
bullying
social media safety
media image
body image
body confidence
self comparison
looks and appearance
body talk
self-esteem
mentor
youth leader
teacher
parent
8 to 16 years
Dove, Cartoon Network and Steven UniverseFind out more about our partnership with Steven Universe.Wondering how to boost childrens’ confidence? We’ve partnered with Cartoon Network’s Steven Universe cartoon to help young people build self-esteem.
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![Dove Standing up against bullies]()
bullying
talking topics
looks and appearance
parent
3 to 9 years
Standing up against bulliesStanding up against bullies can be hard. Here’s what you can do to help kids fight bullying.As a parent or guardian, you might be wondering what you can do to help fight bullying. Find out how to help kids stand up against bullying.
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![Dove How to deal with bullying]()
bullying
talking topics
body image
looks and appearance
self-esteem
parent
3 to 9 years
Talking to kids: how to deal with bullyingTeasing and bullying can cause low self-esteem and body image. Discover how to talk about it with the kids in your life.Find out more about teasing and bullying, effects on children and what you can do to help the young people in your life.
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![Dove Media and stereotypes]()
talking topics
female stereotypes
body image
looks and appearance
self-esteem
parent
stereotypes
diversity
3 to 9 years
The influence of media on kids: what to look forWhat children see on their screens can have a big impact on their self-esteem. Discover the influence of media on kids here.Discover the influence of media on kids, how to choose inclusive and diverse media and what to look out for.
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