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If you have children, daughters especially, you probably worry about their self esteem and their views on what is beautiful in a person. With media influencing our kids and setting unrealistic examples on what is beautiful, no matter how much we try to protect them from it, their self esteem can be come effected.
A recent study showed that 7 in 10 girls ages 8-17 feel that they do not measure up in some way including their looks, performance in school and relationships. Girls with low self-esteem are engaging in harmful and destructive behavior that can impact their lives forever. The study, commissioned by The Dove Self Esteem Fund was used to help Dove better understand the issues, causes and outcomes of low self esteem. The findings were issued in a report called Real Girls, Real Pressure: A National Report on the State of Self Esteem. The full report can be found HERE.
Statistics from the study are alarming. A whopping 75% of girls with low self esteem engage in negative and potentially harmful activities when feeling bad about themselves. 25% of girls with low self esteem resort to cutting or injuring themselves in some way. Another 25% practice eating disorders.
Dove has created a program- The Dove Self Esteem Fund (DSEF) to try to reach 5 million young girls worldwide to inspire and educate girls about a wider definition of beauty. The Dove brand uses real women, not professional models, in various ages, sizes and shapes to provoke discussion on what beauty really is. Dove’s mission is to make more women feel beautiful every day by widening the stereotypical views of beauty.
DSEF is a global effort. Here in the U.S. they support the Boys & Girls Club and Girls Scouts to help build confidence in girls with after school programs, self-esteem building events and educational resources. www.campaignforrealbeauty.com also has a wide selection of resources and useful tools for girls, moms and mentors. Download your free copies of True You! workbooks that contain self-esteem exercises designed for moms and daughters to do together and register to receive a Real Beauty Workshop DVD/CD free of charge. Be sure to explore the whole website. There is a wealth of valuable information and ideas for building self-esteem in young girls that you won’t want to miss!
Enter to Win! We are giving away a “Your Beautiful Pass It On” t-shirt and 2 books titled “Perfect Girls, Starving Daughters” by Courtney E. Martin and “Life Doesn’t Begin 5 Pounds From Now” by Jessica Weiner. To enter, please leave a comment with a suggestion on how to help build self-esteem in young girls. For an extra entry, blog about this giveaway then come back and leave us the link. This giveaway is open until November 26th at 11:59 pm. A winner will be selected by random number generator and notified by email (so be sure to leave a valid email address!) The winner will then have 48 hours to respond with their mailing address or an alternate will be drawn.
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Avoid equating another person’s size with a negative attribute. Kids pick up on our words and attitudes so quickly!
I’m a teacher and some people focus on the outer beauty and equate that with self esteem. Just saying a girl is pretty doesn’t cut it. She has to have opportunities to express herself and expand her boundaries.
Self estem is very important and they need to know they are loved and to obtain reasonable goals and they are special no matter what goes wrong in life.ty 4 the great giveaway and entry!
Set a good example.
I encourage and compliment my girls everyday. I think it is very important to celebrate the differences. Thank you
tatertot374@sbcglobal.net
I have 3 young daughters so this is a very important issue to me. several things that remain in the forefront in my mind are the types of comments I make about myself and my body in front of my girls. With my oldest, we’ll talk about the ads on tv or in magazines and all the ways they can change those. We focus on her gifts, talents and attributes and have them participate in activities they love and give them confidence and pride so they have a strong sense of self apart from what anyone says about their appearance. Teaching that beauty comes from the inside out!
arbrashears (at) msn.com
Give them Compliments whenever you can . It is so important for young Girls …gee even we “older girls” need to hear a Compliment once in a while
thanks!
I always tell my daughters something I love or admire about them. It may be personality, attitude or (gulp) physical. But it’s always truthful so they know, “hey, what she’s saying is true.” No lying to make them feel good. Pick a true, good thing and make it real to them.
It starts with me changing my own view about my body, before it will mean anything to my girls.
Teach a girl that life is hard enough without trying to fit the magazine covers.
Encourage them to get involved in something active they would enjoy like dance or sports. Moving and being healthy can effect the mind as well as the body in a positive way.
Explain how pictures in magazines are not really how the celebrities look.
Listen and love!
theyyyguy@yahoo.com
Young girls need to be encouraged to love themselves as they are and to strive for their biggest dreams!
thanks for the giveaway!
ladyspy79(at)aol(dot)com
by showing that “beautiful” comes in all colors shapes and sizes. have many different types of rolemodels besides the stick figure run way models. and make sure to teach that our differences make us special!
a_true_goddess@hotmail.com
Show them that they are loved.
build them up not tear them down.
lprouty@comcast.net
Lead by example. Girls copycat their moms. Try to express your inner beauty and see how much it will reflect on others.
Vanessa C.
vanessasuethompson(at)gmail.com
I like Dove’s campaign for young girls. It is so important these days for young girls to feel good about themselves. They are exposed to way too much negative on TV, catalogs, magazines and even peer pressure.
My Mom stressed inner beauty to my sisters and I when growing up and I’ve also done the same with my child. Beauty comes from within and the physical aspects aren’t as important as our society makes it out to be.
Thank you for also helping to promote self esteem.
give them unconditional love and really listen.
I am very careful about what I say about myself and my own body (my 3 year old started saying she was fat after hearing my husband say it about himself a couple of times.) My daughter will learn by example to love herself!
marisammoore @ yahoo.com
I teach my girls that as long as you live healthy it doesn’t matter. People who are worth associating with will not care about your looks. They will care about your personality, your intelligence, and that you are kind to those around you.
mommyhoodisthankless{AT}gmail.com
Set a good example.
Stampnsark@aol.com
Positive reinforcements. Try to change their negative thinking into positives.
melinda.s41@gmail.com
I teach my nieces and my son that they deserve love, kindness, patience and respect and who they are – uniquely – is the coolest thing there could be.
Give them an allowance. Let them make some decisions on what they want to wear and a voice in family matters that affect them. garrettsambo@aol.com
always be positive
Great prize from a great company
Brag on young girls everyday. Remind them that you make mistakes too, and life still goes on.
Make sure they know everyday how proud you are of them. Tell them they are beautiful often. Be a positive role model by being confident yourself!
kjc02@msn.com
I think the example of a self-confident mother or mentor along with support and encouragement helps a lot!
I have found that gymnastics has been a confidence and esteem builder for my daughter. The sport, even on a non-competitive basis, build determination, confidence, and discipline for young girls.
Let her know you are proud of her in any way possible and tell her how great she is daily!
glassylady57@yahoo.com
Remind them that they are beautiful…that beauty comes in all shapes and sizes! Everyone is beautiful!
Be a good example for them!
I would say that you need to mirror self esteem and confidence. Be happy with yourself, and who you are, and let your daughter know that beauty comes in all shapes and sizes.
Compliment girls for their inner beauty–when they are compassionate, helpful, friendly, thoughtful.
Giving comments and praise on things they do that are separate from beauty and physical selves will help send the right message.
doot65{at}comcast[dot]net
always use kind words and compliments
By praising and nurturing whatever skills or talents she exhibits.
Give positive reinforcement.
donna444444@yahoo.com
I thinks the way to build self esteem in young girls is to give
them choices and let them become
responsible for their choices.Let
them know their are capable of
doing things and to encourage them
CharlieGurl57@aol.com
One suggestion on how to help build self-esteem in young girls is to emphasize character and accomplishments instead of appearance.