Talking to Teens About Body Image: A Parent’s Guide to Support and Empowerment
by Jillian Amodio, LMSW
The teen years are a time of self-discovery. These years toe the line between adolescence and adulthood, lending curiosity to questions about identity and purpose. Teens often express a deepening desire for freedom and autonomy. They rely on friends, extracurriculars, social opportunities, and, yes, even social media for inspiration, connection, and oftentimes validation. While self- discovery can be exciting and enlightening, it can also come with feelings of inadequacy and a tendency to compare. Teens are inundated 24/7 with messages about who they should be, how they should look, how they spend their time, what to eat, what to listen to, who to follow, and much more. With all of the conflicting messages and filter-laden glamour of social media profiles, body image becomes a major issue for many teens to work through. So what should parents do about it? As parents, our role is to guide our children toward developing a strong sense of self and the confidence to stay true to their values. In doing so, we can aid our children in cultivating healthy relationships with their bodies and minds. Here are a few tips for talking to teens
for us to see their beauty and perfection, it’s important not to invalidate, minimize, or dismiss their feelings if they can’t quite see themselves in the same light. When talking about body image issues, instead of (or perhaps in addition to) trying to convince them to see themselves through your eyes, make sure to validate their emotions by listening attentively and responding with empathy. Teens are going through rapid changes and experiencing things like acne, weight fluctuation, and body shape and composition changes. While some of these changes are welcome, some are harder to accept. Normalize their feelings and offer support without judgment. Often, what our teens need most is for us to just listen. Encourage your teen to practice self-expression that makes them feel good! We might not always agree with their style choices, but allowing them the freedom to experiment will help build their self-confidence. Challenge Unrealistic Beauty Standards Just like we teach our kids the skills they need for literacy and critical thinking in school, we need to teach
about body image. Be Open-Minded
As parents, we often have valuable life experiences and wisdom that we are eager to bestow upon our kids. However, before launching into a well- practiced sermon of love-laden advice, it’s important to remember that our kids might have a different worldview or perspective on things. And that’s ok! Many of us adults have built the resilience and coping strategies needed not to care so much about what others think. But right now, for our teens, acceptance and validation are literally their fuel. While it might be as easy as breathing
APRIL 2025 | 81
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