by Eric Buckingham

Created on: November 28, 2007

The first step in encouraging a good body image and self confidence in your child is letting them know that no matter what they are loved. Starting as soon as they arrive into this world kids need to know that they are loved. Not only do they need to know that they are loved they need to know why. You need to praise them and let them know why you love them. I love you because you are you. I love you because you are kind and think about other people and so on. Let them know you love them for what they have on the inside. Let them no that beauty is only skin deep, and a person can be picture perfect but if they are ugly on the inside then it will show on the outside.

Let them know they are wonderful, loved, and very important. Kids need to have that attitude when going out into the real world because n the real world everyone gets a slice of humble pie.

Make sure that you are really expressing the importance of being kind and let your teenager know that by making others look or feel less is not the way to fell better about them self. Make it clear that everyone is different and that everyone has different talents, looks, and attributes and everyone is unique in their own way.

During school peers can pick on your child or make them feel bad about their body image. Let your teen know that they need to stand up for themselves and not just stand around and be subjected to the abuse. This is a big problem with teens and their body image the way others view them. For some reason they believe what other people think and say is more important than how they feel about their own body. Make sure they know the difference between being nice and being a pushover.

Just make sure to instill in them that they are beautiful and loved no matter what their size is. If you keep believing in them then they will believe in themselves as well.

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