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According The National Institute of Mental Health, 5 to 10% of American girls and women and 1 million American boys and men suffer from eating disorders such as anorexia, bulimia, and other conditions. Studies show that up to 15% of young women have unsafe or unhealthy behaviors and views when it comes to food. These sort of statistics rightfully have many parents worried.
If you have a daughter, it is important that your daughter grow up with a healthy body. Unfortunately, many parents feel completely helpless when it comes to their daughter's image. Many parents blame the media for promoting unhealthy images of bodies and women. While it is certainly true that ultra-thin models project an unrealistic view of women's bodies, there are in fact many things that parents can do to help foster healthy attitudes:
- One thing you can do with your daughter is to discuss the media. Even very young children can be made to understand that what we see in magazines, movies, and TV is more about pretend than about reality. Older children can be made to understand specifics about photo-shopping. The internet is full of images of celebrities before they are photo-shopped and this can be a real eye-opener.
- Be careful about the comments you make about yourself and other women. If you complain about your own size or make catty comments about other women, your daughter may model this behavior and these attitudes. Praise women for their intelligence, contributions, and other important aspects.
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Praise your daughter's appearance. If your daughter has pretty eyes or nice hair, make sure that you complement that. Buy her accessories that highlight these traits and make her feel great about herself. Allow your daughter to select her own clothes – clothes that make her feel good.
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Don't compare your daughter to others – not even yourself when you were younger.
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Make sure that there are healthy choices available in the home, but don't push your daughter to make healthful choices. Telling your daughter what to eat or telling her to exercise may come across as criticism, even if you don't mean it that way. If you make healthy choices and make those choices available without comment, your daughter may follow suit.
If you want your child to have a positive day care environment where he or she will learn about self-esteem and develop good future success skills, consider Robin's Nest Child Care. Children at Robin's Nest Child Care get plenty of positive reinforcement that helps them grow personally as well as educationally.
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