Help Your Daughter Develop a Positive Body Image

Practical Tips and Strategies

Young girls get bombarded with media messages that can make it hard for them to feel good about their appearance. Here are some practical ways to help your daughter develop healthy self-esteem about her appearance.

Managing Media Messages

1. Establish limits. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends limiting TV time to two hours a day or less. Be selective about the shows your family watches instead of always leaving the set on. You’ll reduce some of the media influences on your kids and free up time for more productive activities.
2. Discuss media portrayals of women. Watch TV with your kids. Talk about whether your favorite actress represents a realistic image of female beauty. Compare celebrities who look natural with those who’ve had radical cosmetic surgery. Discuss how both can be beautiful and emphasize how she was made unique and perfect according to God’s plan.
3. Present diverse images of beauty. Not all beautiful women are thin and blonde. Rent a batch of foreign movies to show your kids different perspectives from other cultures. Check out paintings online by artists like Reubens and Courbet, who preferred full-figure models.
4. Encourage your daughter’s interest in a wide range of subjects. Help your daughter supplement her interests in fashion and beauty with additional academic and cultural activities. Music lessons or foreign language classes will enrich her life and let her feel more accomplished.

Clothing Guidelines

1. Shop for clothes that flatter your daughter’s best features. Applaud your daughter’s efforts to find her own personal style. Help her select outfits that work with her body type.
2. Talk with your daughter about buying her first bra. The first bra is a milestone in every girl’s life. If she’s uncomfortable mentioning it, be ready to bring the subject up yourself whenever her body begins to develop. Your openness can help her adjust to her changing body.
   Additional Suggestions
3. Support your daughter in maintaining healthy food choices. Replace the word diet in your household with the term healthy choices. Approach with positive suggestions, but don’t limit her to only healthy foods. Allow her to enjoy sugar as well. A balanced diet is vital. Let your daughter know that her health and well-being is your top priority.
4. Compliment her inner qualities. Girls can feel pressured to value themselves based mainly on their appearance. Help her find balance by focusing on her internal strengths, from being an excellent friend to mastering algebra.
5. Monitor her participation in sports. Sports are often a constructive outlet, but play it safe. Ensure coaches stress positive messages. Your daughter needs to enjoy herself without any excessive demands.
6. Demonstrate a positive attitude towards all women, including yourself. Your efforts will be more effective and credible if you have a respectful outlook on women. Try to avoid making disparaging remarks about family members or celebrities. Even if your comment seems trivial, teens and preteens can be susceptible to their parents’ attitudes. Don’t talk negatively about yourself, your features, and your looks.
7. Seek professional help. Most girls learn to accept their maturing bodies, but serious issues may require professional counseling. If your daughter shows signs of an eating disorder, consult your family physician or a counselor who specializes in working with children and adolescents. Help is available.
   Everybody’s
   Your daughter can develop healthy self-esteem and learn to love how she looks with your guidance and support. Keep the lines of communication open and focus on her inner beauty.