Promoting Positive Body Image By Talking with Your Teen Girls

Promoting Positive Body Image By Talking with Your Teen Girls

Body image among girls has been a hot button topic for many years and with the rise in internet access and social media, teens need help more than ever to develop good self- esteem. As a parent, you play an important role in promoting a positive body image for your teen girl and there are a variety of things you can do to help her grow strong and confident for the right reasons.

  1. Be a positive role model – You cannot complain about how fat you feel in your jeans and then expect your daughter to not echo similar sentiments. While it may not feel like it, your teen watches you more than you think. Be positive about your own body and learn how to celebrate your assets instead of bemoaning your flaws and encourage your teen to do the same.
  2. Make good health a lifestyle – Teaching your family good eating habits is an important part of being healthy. While it may be tempting to remove all junk food from your teen’s life, learning how to balance the occasional drive through meal or weekend batch of cookies is also an important skill to master when it comes to overall health. You are the most important factor in helping your daughter learn good habits that will benefit her now and throughout her life.
  3. Be positive – Even if there is some aspect of your girl’s appearance that concerns you, such as weight gain or acne, she needs you to be a safe and supportive place. Drawing attention to issues that she is likely already aware of will only make her feel rejected. Rather than being critical, give her healthy feedback on aspects of her body that she can be consistently proud of, such as her beautiful, curly hair or her bright smile. You can still help her overcome issues of concern with more subtle approaches or by encouraging lifestyle changes as a family.
  4. Talk to her about media – Arguably, the media plays one of the biggest roles in teen girl body image these days. Airbrushed photos of models can set a very unrealistic standard for beauty. Keep a dialog about what is attainable, such as outfits and hairstyle as opposed to what is not, such as thigh gaps and large breasts.
  5. Identify other forms of beauty – In our image centered world, many teen girls make the mistake of assuming that looks are their greatest asset. Remind her that she is a whole person and that there are beautiful aspects about her that have nothing to do with looks or body shape. Teach her how to appreciate her body by introducing sports or dancing and make sure that you are recognizing a variety of strengths, such as her responsible nature or her excellent academic skills. Focus on the benefits of a strong, healthy body over traditional notions of beauty whenever you can.

Request Free Admissions Information

Step 1 of 3 - Your Contact Info

Written by Natalie

12 Feb, 2016

Recent Posts

7 Tips to Cope With Teen Stress

7 Tips to Cope With Teen Stress

With the stressors we face as adults, with work and family responsibilities, it’s easy to forget that our teens also often face significant pressure and stress as they navigate their lives. If your teen has been having a tough time, there are a few things that you can...

Parenting Tips for 14 year olds

Parenting Tips for 14 year olds

Teens can be hard to talk to sometimes and even to engage with. Many kids are dealing with changes during the early teenage years that can lead them to act out, be closed off, or be generally disrespectful toward their parents or authority figures. When you are trying...

What are the Benefits of Equine Therapy

What are the Benefits of Equine Therapy

Working and interacting with horses is by no means a new trend; in fact, utilizing this type of therapy with horses for issues such as anxiety and depression has occurred for several decades. Though more research needs to be done to delve into the full benefits of...

How to Set a Curfew For Your Teen

How to Set a Curfew For Your Teen

When your teen was younger, it wasn’t necessary to set a curfew for him. Most likely because you were the one who was running around dropping him off and then picking him up. As he grows up and gains independence, it is more likely that he is driving himself or...

What to Do When Your Teen Lies

What to Do When Your Teen Lies

When was the last time that you told a little white lie? If we’re honest with ourselves, we don’t always tell the truth. We may tell our partners, children, and coworkers those little white lies even when we know better. Children and teens may not always know better...

How to Deal With an Aggressive Teenager

How to Deal With an Aggressive Teenager

As the parent of a teen, you may expect a level of angst, anger, eye-rolling, and the occasional slammed door after a disagreement. What you may not expect is aggressive behavior that may be verbal and physical. Whether your teen is strictly verbally aggressive or has...

You May Also Like…

0 Comments

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *