It’s quite common for adolescents and teens to struggle with body image throughout puberty. The physical and emotional changes that occur during this phase of life can be dramatic. Additionally, adolescents often compare themselves to their peers when it comes to physical appearance. They might worry that they don’t look like their friends, or that they don’t measure up to the teenagers they see in the media.
For teens and adolescents, it can be hard to accept these physical changes and how they change the way other people perceive them. As a parent, you might be concerned that your child has been making negative comments about their body or appearance. Here are a few steps you can take to shift their perspective.
1. Set a Good Example
First, it’s important to remember that your teen will naturally pick up on your own views about body image. If you frequently criticize your own appearance, talk about your weight, or make comments about the way other people look, your teen might adopt the same mindset.
Be mindful of the way you talk about your own body and other people’s appearances. This can be a powerful opportunity to reflect on your own thoughts about your body image and the values you express. Think about the way you hope your teen will talk about themselves. Try to apply this outlook to your own body image. When you talk about your body, consider whether or not it would upset you to hear your teen say the same things.
2. Limit Screen Time
Today, many adolescents spend hours online each day. The images that your teen sees online might be affecting their body image. On social media, countless influencers edit their photos and videos, ensuring that every post is polished. Many of these influencers, celebrities, and other popular figures online would be unrecognizable on the street because the images they share online are impossible to recreate without editing tools.
Yet it’s hard to keep the unrealistic nature of these images in mind for teens who are exposed to this kind of content on a daily basis. You may want to designate “screen-free” hours at home and suggest more activities that do not involve screens.
3. Compliment Their Talents
Adolescents and teens are often hyper-focused on how their bodies look, rather than everything they’re capable of doing. By complimenting your child’s talents, you can help shift their focus. For example, if your teen plays a sport, praise their strength, work ethic, and ability to coordinate with their teammates. If your teen enjoys an artistic activity, like musical theater, drawing, or singing, compliment their creative talents and their bravery in sharing their gifts with the world.
What we can do, and what we’re capable of offering to others, is far more important than appearances. But societal values do not always reflect this. As a parent, you can start shifting the conversation in your own household.
4. Have Fun with Movement
Your teen does not have to play sports to explore their athletic capabilities. There are all sorts of ways to find joy in physical activity. For example, you might want to go hiking as a family, give your teen the chance to sign up for dance classes, or suggest going to a yoga class together.
Physical activity provides a reliable mood boost, and it helps your teen tune into their strength, flexibility, and balance, rather than concentrating on the way their body looks.
Are you concerned about your teen’s body image? It may be time to reach out to a therapist. Connect today to learn more about our teen therapy services.