Raise a Happy Girl
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When It Comes to Body Image, Girls Have the Right Idea
For years, we’ve heard about girls having negative self-image. It’s an accepted piece of conventional wisdom. But data shows the current generation has a much more positive outlook than those who came before them. In a recent study conducted by Girl Scouts of the USA, a whopping 96 percent of girls surveyed said they like the way they look. Beyond that, they said that appearance isn’t the most important thing to them, with a majority reporting they’d prefer to be called smart over being called pretty.
That kind of confidence is undeniably a breath of fresh air and definitely something to celebrate. Unfortunately, though, it’s an area where many women who grew up in previous decades—the very women who are raising today’s girls—may trail their daughters. In GSUSA’s research, one in three girls as young as five reported that the women in their lives speak negatively about their own bodies. And more than half of girls ages 8-11 said they hear negative comments. As girls rely on women in their communities as role models, this overheard negative self-talk can make girls believe they’re meant to doubt or dislike their bodies and could chip away at their confidence as they grow.
In short, when adult women speak poorly of their own bodies, they may be unintentionally eroding the confidence of the girls in their lives and causing them to be more focused on their appearance. Obviously that’s not the intended outcome, but the practice is one that women with young girls in their lives may want to change. By flipping the script and looking to girls themselves as body-image role models, parents, caregivers, and women with young girls in their lives can not only learn to be kinder to themselves (definitely a win!); they can also reduce the risk of diminishing the confidence of those girls over time.
These tips to keep girls loving their bodies just might remind you of how awesome your body is, too.
Celebrate your senses
Bodies allow us to do things like smell freshly baked cookies, see beautiful paintings, hear incredible music, feel the fluff of beloved pets, and taste our favorite foods. Try to be fully present in experiences like these and really appreciate each corresponding sensation.
Jump for joy
Whether you’re hitting the dance floor at a party or hugging a family member, you’re using your body to express joy. Bonus? Studies show dancing can lift your mood and that hugging helps our bodies release feel-good chemicals. So when we move in a happy way, we can actually make ourselves even happier.
Express yourself
The clothes, accessories, and hairstyles we wear are creative outlets and ways to communicate our personalities with the world. The less we care about the size on the tag and the more we care about how much fun we can have with our OOTD, the better off everyone will be!
Learn more about the Body Appreciation program designed to support overall well-being and develop lifelong habits that nurture both physical and emotional health. Made possible by Flamingo.
