Body image is a sensitive topic, but it's one that needs to be discussed. There is never a right or wrong time to have that conversation about the anatomy of the female body. We all come in different shapes, colors, and sizes and are all equally beautiful. But how do you explain that to a young girl who looks in the mirror and wonders why she doesn't look like her friends?
Be Open and Honest
Make sure to go into the conversation open and honest. This will make it easier to answer tough questions and eliminate the uncomfortableness.
Age Appropriate Discussion
Sharing too much too soon may be an ineffective approach. This will lead to more confusion than understanding. Having an age-appropriate discussion will work best as it meets right where the child is.
Create A Space Safe
Many kids are bullied just by the way they look. If your child has or is currently being bullied, make sure to create a safe environment to talk. That means no one else is around - it's just you and your child. Talking amongst peers, relatives, or siblings will create uneasiness and a potential hostile environment will lead your child to shut down.
Provide Reassurance and Self-Confidence
As parents, our children are precious and beautiful. But as they grow older and out in the world, they may start to feel otherwise. Instilling self-confidence is so important from a young age because it shields them from the daggers of perfection the world will throw at them.
With all this in mind, teaching young girls about their bodies will be a simple, smooth, and insightful conversation. Now, when they look at themselves in the mirror, they will appreciate their body and embrace their uniqueness. You have to think about the female body as a flower. When flowers bloom, they bloom so beautifully - and at their own pace.
By Quinea Calloway