Promoting Proper Self Image For Your Teenage Child
It is in adolescence that people begin to develop and establish their own identities. The irony here is that teenage children will begin to make decisions and assert their differences from their parents but at the same time, they will have a sometimes unconscious need to blend and fit in with their peers. This can be very confusing to both parents and teenage children. This is why this period in a child's life can be quite stressful, full of doubt and insecurities.
Excessive and unmanaged insecurities and self doubt during this period however can become detrimental to the healthy progress of your child into adulthood. For your teenager to be able to become a well adjusted adult in the future, it is important to be able to promote a healthy and proper norm for self image.
We have borne a society that is obsessed with image and this is reflected in the models and icons that we uphold as ideal. This may cause your teenage child to harbor unrealistic ideas about what is attractive and achievable. He or she may constantly compare themselves to airbrushed models in magazines and cosmetically enhanced actors and actresses on the screen. While aspiration is a good thing, it is important that you help your child understand that some physical attributes are naturally not available to all people and that is not a bad thing.
It is therefore important to be able to foster a proper sense of individuality and conformity in your teenage child at this stage. It is very important not to neglect this aspect of development because an unhealthy self image harbored can result in dangerous habits that can be quite self destructive. An unhealthy self image can lead to bulimia, anorexia or other life threatening eating disorders just because they are obsessing over unrealistic and existentially unimportant goals.
When teaching your teenage child about proper self image, it is important to set a good example. Your child will be able to gain the needed confidence and belief in oneself by having you as a dependable role model. You see, when dealing with teenagers, it is important to teach through example because this way, you are able to practically carry out advice without being over bearing about it.
Next, when teaching your child about proper self image, you will need to take the middle ground. It is simply unfair and actually impractical to bombard your child with extreme ideas. This means that it is important to let your teenage child understand that maintaining an attractive image is important but not the ultimate goal of one's life.
It is important to explain that an attractive physical appearance can be achieved by maintaining the proper health and lifestyle combined with proper hygiene and appropriate fashion sense.
After letting your teenage child understand that the world and society does put some weight on attractiveness, it is then important to stress and balance this by explaining that physical image is not all there is. A person is made up of a complex mix of attitude, intellect and character that all need to be given as much importance as physical attractiveness.
With the proper advice from you and support from peers, your teenage child will be able to create and establish a healthy self image.