It is often assumed that the moment you become a parent you should know how to handle all the ins and outs of parenthood. Nonetheless, as a child consistently and systematically enters each stage of his or her development, parents encounter new parental challenges.
One of those phases is when your child is on his or her way to becoming a teenager. As his or her body begins to go through hormonal changes to prepare for puberty, he or she may start having body image issues. It is at this stage of childhood development where children’s self-confidence drops. As a result they can end up feeling depressed or suffer from anxiety. This can be a tricky situation for any parent to handle.
Some parents tell themselves it’s just a phase and choose to brush it off in the hopes that it will pass. This not only doesn’t help it pass but may have the opposite effect. It may also give a child the impression that his or her parents don’t understand them and that they cannot trust them with their inner thoughts and feelings, leaving them feeling vulnerable and lonely.
Be open and listen
When you see your child is irritated or upset, privately ask them if there’s something bothering them and if they need to talk. This helps them know you are open to discussions about their thoughts and feelings and they will come to you more easily in the future.
Understand and believe
Explain to your child that it’s normal to feel a little sad or anxious sometimes at any age, but especially at their age. Show empathy and understanding toward them and believe them when they say they genuinely feel their body image issue is real.
Don’t minimise the issue
Avoid showing or saying that the problem they are facing is ‘no big deal’ even if you really believe it is insignificant. To him or her, what they’re going through is important enough to cause them anxiety so it should be treated as such.
Educate and guide
There are two things children of that age must know and understand:
Firstly, the way their body looks is not that important. What their body can do for them is what counts. They must learn that other peoples’ opinions don’t matter and what’s important is that they are healthy and happy.
Secondly, they must be prepared for the inevitable way their body will change once they hit puberty, that it is perfectly normal and that everybody goes through it.
Note: A child may be in need of professional help if their anxiety becomes so severe that it affects his or her day to day life
