Beauty and appearance ideals exist in all societies. As adults, we know that expecting everyone ‘should’ and ‘could’ look a certain way is completely unrealistic, but how do our children navigate the images and expectations they are exposed to?

As parents, we want to ensure our sons feel good about themselves, but hormones, puberty and outside factors like friends and social media can negatively influence the way our boys see themselves.

While current research suggests approximately 50% of 8-11 year old girls report body dissatisfaction, often desiring to be thinner – boys often desire to be more muscular, with these concerns starting from the early primary school years.

Encouraging uniqueness, knowing you are so much more than your appearance and avoiding comparisons to others are life skills that even adults struggle to master.

So, what can we do to help our young men? 

The following six tips are great conversations starters if you sense your son is not feeling great about himself and the way he looks. Having open communication with your son is critical to helping him be body positive.

1. Focus on what your body can do
Think of the millions of unique things your body helps you do every day. This is a great reminder that you’re so much more than the way you look.

2. Question what you see in the media
Next time you see an ‘ideal’ body, think: What goes into looking that way? How many people do you see in everyday life that look like that? Is it realistic or helpful to compare?

3. Unfollow people who make you feel bad about yourself
For a positive newsfeed, try following people you admire who have all different interests – and body shapes.

4. Say thank you
Next time someone compliments you, try saying thank you rather than shrugging it off. Showing gratitude can go a long way to improving how we feel about ourselves.

5. Focus on other people’s good qualities
Looking for the good in other people creates positive vibes and can even help you focus on your own strengths.

6. Hang with positive people
Surround yourself with people who get you and encourage you to feel confident.

 

With thanks to Butterfly Foundation for their tips

 

Brought to you by Brighton Grammar School

This article is about Understanding Boys, Parenting