Improve Your Teen’s Body Image by Example

Today's youth are constantly bombarded with media, literature, advertising, and television. It seems that as the amount of teen media exposure increases, so do the physical expectations and demands of young society. Today's teens are under more pressure than ever to look, dress, and even act in the way popular culture expects them to.

Unfortunately, this media pressure does not only affect teenagers and young adults. Many adults in modern society have difficulty combating stress, insecurity, and even depression brought on by the inability to look and live how popular media expects. These feelings can easily influence and impact the children of these adults. Listed below are some examples of how parents can improve their teen's body image by first improving their own.

What are you saying about your own body?

Everyone has flaws. Some people have learned to accept and even love their flaws. Others seem stunted and even obsessed with changing their body and features. It is very easy to fall into a pattern of negative thinking and speaking about features of your body that you don't like or find acceptable.

Lack of confidence and negative body image can be learned characteristics. Too often teenagers and even young children have learned to dislike and even despise the way they look because they have followed the example of their parent. If a parent is constantly lamenting, complaining, or distressing about their body, it is very easy for a teen to learn and then repeat this negative self-destructive behavior.

Complimenting

Genuine compliments can make almost anyone feel better about their appearance. These compliments are especially powerful when the parent of the child gives them. It is important to remember to give your child genuine and specific compliments. These positive affirmations will help build confidence in teens. This confidence can help teens combat the influences of media stereotypes.

Positive Attention

Many teens have learned that it is much easier to gain attention from their peers by dressing provocatively, than by dressing appropriately. Unfortunately, popular media advertising usually embellishes this idea. As a parent, it is important to teach teens that dressing sexually is not age appropriate or necessary to gain peer approval. This can be difficult if the parent is also accustomed to receiving attention from sexual dress.

It is important for teens to learn how to gain positive attention through their actions and deeds. Too often society places an unnecessary level of importance on physical appearance as a means to gain success and popularity. The most important teacher in a teen's life is their parent. Parents should encourage their teen to cultivate talents and improve their self-esteem through a more positive means. Parents can be a good example for their teen by developing their own talents and expressing themselves in an intellectual and philanthropic way. Donating time and talents to charity can build esteem in both adults and teens.

Healthy Living

Exercise and a healthy diet can improve overall wellbeing, self-esteem, and work ethic. The best way to encourage teens to live well, is to live well yourself. There is no need to be extreme, but walking, eating healthy foods, breathing fresh air, and talking with your teen about body image can go a long way to help improve body image and self-esteem.