What Parents Can Do
Goodman offers the following tips to parents to help boost their child’s self-esteem:
Give compliments for specific behavior, no empty praise
Avoid comments about looks Involve girls/boys in sports, physical activities
Allow teens to try it their way sometimes, not just your way
Let children try to solve problems on their own – don’t rush in, let them fail sometimes
Help them develop confidence in their own opinions
Pay attention to the non-physical
Expose girls to non-traditional classes/activities – in school, perhaps science class; at home, let her help with the budget; in leisure time, maybe martial arts
Point out role models in non-beauty arenas: sports, science, politics, art
Watch your own comments about others’ body, hair, clothes
Dina Santorelli is a Long Island-based freelance writer and editor. Her website is www.dinasantorelli.com.