There’s really no other way to say this: Raising a confident, self-assured daughter who is comfortable with her body is not an easy thing to do these days.
From the time she’s a toddler a girl is bombarded with media and messages that undermine the kind of healthy, resilient self-image you want her to develop.
But parents have a great amount of influence on how a girl feels about herself, and with the right map in hand, you can steer your daughter away from influences and activities that undermine self-esteem and towards those that contribute to a realistic body image and a strong sense of self
As girls’ bodies grow and change, they can feel self-conscious and hyper-aware of every blemish and extra pound. They’re also bombarded with “ideal,” often computer-enhanced, body images that are impossible to measure up to. These messages can convince anyone that they’re too fat, too thin, too short, or too tall.
So today I will be sharing 6 ways to help your daughter’s build their self esteem
- Set a good example. Enjoy physical activities together. Go for a walk together. Prepare healthy food together. Also remind your daughter that you exercise and eat a balanced diet for your health, not just to look a certain way. Also think about what you read and watch as well as the products you buy and the message your choices send.
- Use positive language and compliment her for who she is. Rather than talking about physical attributes of your child or yourself, instead praise her personal characteristics such as strength, persistence and kindness. Don’t call yourself fat or use negative words to describe your own body in front of her, because they pick up on these things. Avoid pointing out negative physical attributes in others or yourself. Don’t make or allow hurtful nicknames, comments or jokes based on a person’s physical characteristics, weight or body shape.
- Make your daughter media literate. Talk about Social media, and the effect it can have on her.
- Discuss the beauty discourses and the Societal beauty standard with your daughter. Let her understand where this stuff comes from. Let her understand that all these are our cultures’ values. And this is not necessarily the way you have to value, or she has to value. Once she realizes what is going on there, she can make her own decisions for herself and think about herself in a whole new way, without it affecting her.
- Don’t raise her as a “people pleaser.” Encourage her to stand up for what she needs and wants. “Create opportunities for her to use her voice, Allow her to argue with you sometimes about stuff and listen to her opinion without criticism. This will boost her confidence
- Explain the effects of puberty. Make sure your child understands that weight gain is a healthy and normal part of development, especially during puberty. .
Try all these tips and love your daughter for who she is and love yourself too.
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