In part one on this topic of helping your teen have a self good image, we talked about how you as parents play a huge role in determining your teens self image. I gave you the most important key to helping your student gain a good self image, and that key is communication. Now we’re going to go over other things you can do, as a parent, to help your teen have a good self image.

Media: TV, Music and Video

Because of the technology available today, our teen’s brains are flooded with thousands of images every day on their cell phones, on TV and on the Internet. They can view music videos on their phone, on YouTube, on their iPod and on TV. And now days, watching TV shows on the Internet is becoming more and more popular, therefore our teens are being sent messages constantly as to how they’re “supposed” to look, according to society. With these messages being fed into their brains almost non-stop, it’s no wonder our teens feel ugly, fat and unattractive, because no one can measure up to the standards that media sets up for the rest of us.

People in the movies, on TV and even music artists are portrayed very thin, very beautiful and very well dressed. As a matter of fact, when the tabloids get shots of celebrities not looking their best, we think “ew, how awful they look” or “Wow! They must be have caught them on a bad day.” The truth is, the photos we see of them in the tabloids are probably more true to how they look every day, when they’re not on set or in front of the camera or on tour. Because of today’s technology, the people we see on TV and on the front of our favorite CD are often “doctored” to look better than they actually do.

Because these images are so engrained in our teenagers heads on a daily basis, our teens think that’s what’s attractive and because they don’t look like their favorite singer or actor, they then think they are fat or ugly.

To help counteract this kind of thinking, we as parents first need to realize this fact: celebrities are normal people who have extra help to look the way they do, either through plastic surgery, photo doctoring or special technology.  We then need to help convey this message to our teens and help them understand that the images they see on a magazine cover have been doctored to make the celebrity look thinner, have smoother skin and shinier hair.

Another way to help your teen have a good self image is to limit the amount of time they spend flooding their brains with the false images. This may be easier said than done because of the technology available, as mentioned above. But, it can be done. Allow a set amount of in front of the computer or watching TV every day. Don’t have unlimited data plans on their cell phone where they can access the Internet and watch YouTube or other TV.

Our children do need and want boundaries and limits whether they realize it or not. And when we as parents set these limits and boundaries with our teens, it says to them that we care and we love them. Even if your teen is defiant at first, especially if you haven’t set boundaries and limits before, deep down they will know and sense your love for them. They may not acknowledge it in their teen years, but as they grow older into adulthood, I wouldn’t be surprised if you get a “thank you for raising me the way you did and protecting me as I was growing up”.

Teens don’t come with an instruction manual, but you can certainly find the guidance to help you understand your teen. Click here to find out more about the Real Life Guidance to Understanding Your Teen and get instant access to your practical guide.