November - Self-Esteem and Body Image
Parent Resources
Book - More Than a Body by Lexie and Lindsay Kite (every woman needs to read this book)
Body Image - Tips for Parents by Better Health
Body Positive Parenting: Nurturing a Healthy Body Image in Adolescence - this amazing PDF has activities, information, and some great suggestions.
Self-Esteem and Mental Health by Young Minds
24 Ways to Build Self-Esteem - my blog
Body Image Building Blocks - my blog
Parent Teen Night Ideas
Go through the Social Media and Self-Esteem PDF together and discuss how social media can affect the way we see ourselves.
If you didn’t do it in April, go through the 23 Body Facts PDF and discuss how amazing our bodies are and what we can do to take better care of them. You can use the unmet needs checklist, as well. Watch this short YouTube video during your discussion. It zooms out into the universe then back into the human body and it shows how absolutely amazing our bodies are!
Read through the non-body compliments together. Which ones would you like to hear someone say to you? Which ones can you say to someone else?
In this 13-minute video Kelli Jean Drinkwater talks openly about the complex relationship we all have with body size and body shaming.
Robert Hoge explores why we all need to own our own faces. He shares his personal story and examines, life, love, beauty, imperfection and pain.
Looks Aren’t Everything. Believe Me, I’m a Model.
Model Cameron Russel talks about how looks aren’t everything, and that it’s what on the inside that really matters.
The Five Pillars of Self-Esteem
This 7-minute animate summary of Nathaniel Branden’s book talks about self-esteem and what it is.
Conversation Starters - Body Image
“Do you ever catch yourself comparing how you look to other people? How does that affect you?”
“If your body could talk, what do you think it would say it needs from you?”
“Has there ever been a time when someone’s comment about your body—or someone else’s—stuck with you? Why do you think that was?”
“How do you feel about the way bodies are shown on social media or in movies?”
“What’s something you like or appreciate about your body—not how it looks, but what it can do?”
“What do you think people your age get told—directly or indirectly—about what they ‘should’ look like?”
Conversation Starters - Self-Esteem
“What’s something you’re proud of—big or small—that maybe no one else even notices?”
“When do you feel most like yourself?”
“How do you talk to yourself when you mess up? What do you wish you could say instead?”
“What’s something you're good at that took you a long time to get good at?”
“What do you think makes someone a strong or resilient person?”
“Can you think of a time when you surprised yourself—in a good way?”
“If you could give your younger self advice, what would you say?”
“What’s something you’re proud of—big or small—that maybe no one else even notices?”
“What do you think confidence really looks like in someone?”
PDFs
Things to Watch Out For:
1. Your teen constantly puts themselves down or talks negatively about who they are. If your teen frequently says things like “I’m ugly,” “I’m not good enough,” or “I hate myself,” and these statements persist over time, it could point to a pattern of low self-worth that needs to be addressed.
2. They avoid being seen or withdraw from social situations. If they’re skipping events, avoiding photos, or isolating themselves because of how they feel about their appearance or value, it’s a red flag for low self-esteem or body dissatisfaction.
3. They show signs of disordered eating or obsessive behaviors around food, exercise, or weight. Watch for excessive calorie counting, restrictive eating, hiding food, body checking in mirrors, or compulsive workouts because these might be signs of an eating disorder or serious body image issues.
4. They base all their worth on achievements, appearance, or approval from others. If your teen only feels “okay” when they get praise, likes, or high performance (and falls apart when they don’t) it can signal fragile self-esteem rooted in external validation.
5. They’re overly influenced by social media and compare themselves constantly. Some comparison is normal, but if your teen becomes obsessed with influencers, filters, or editing their image to look a certain way, it may be damaging their self-image.
6. They act like they don’t matter or that their voice doesn’t count. Teens struggling with self-esteem may become passive, indecisive, or reluctant to speak up for themselves because they don’t feel they’re “enough.”
7. Their emotional state changes when they talk about themselves. Tears, anger, shame, or visible discomfort when discussing appearance or personal value may suggest deeper struggles that need care and support.