What is body confidence?
“I admire the healthy attitude of children towards their bodies, and I love that they have at least one stage in their lives in which they feel they are perfect just as they are. They take everything so naturally. In the future, the environment and life will bring disappointments for them and their self-image will also be knocked down during their lives. I wish their self-image remained as good as possible until adulthood.” (parent’s answer)
Body confidence is the human body image, the perception of one’s body. How good, fit, right, or worthy a person feels their own body is.
Body image is often distorted in adolescence. Ordinary young people feel they are of wrong kind or worse than others. They begin to modify themselves or even lose weight for nothing, because they feel that they are of the wrong size.
Body confidence develops well when the human body is treated well and talked about with respect. Closeness and positive touch support body confidence. Thus, you start to like your body and want to take good care of it.
Body confidence does not depend on what it is like in the eyes of others. It does not matter whether the human body has a particular feature or functional disability. Body confidence may always be excellent. On the other hand, a person with a fully functional and normal body may have really low body confidence. They suffer in their skins, are ashamed of themselves, and want to change everything about themselves. It is sad and pointless. Bullying and maltreatment violate body confidence.
Adults should remember to act as a positive body image model themselves. It means talking about yourself, your body and everyone else’s bodies in a positive tone. Thus, no mocking or criticism behind anyone’s back or when watching the TV.
None of us can change our bodies, but fortunately we all have our own, unique body. You cope with it in the best possible way, happy, grateful and proud!
Author: Parenting Experts, the Family Federation of Finland