Parents' concerns were sparked by a recent survey on kids' use of social media. A third of teen females, 32 per cent, reported that they "felt awful and unhappy about their bodies," and social media use just made this feeling worse.
This disturbs parent who are part of a generation exposed to the negative aspects of social media like cyberbullying and body shaming, and parents, need to change the narrative.
Yet how? Here are three strategies to promote body confidence, not just in young people but also in ourselves.
* Use the right words: Instead of saying things out loud like "I need to lose X kgs", tweak it today, "I need to be cautious so I can stay healthy." When you pass judgment on others, what they hear is that it is okay to look at people only based on their looks and body. It is important they learn sooner than later, that it is not okay to shame people based on their appearance.
* Define your core focus: Shift the topic of body confidence to "how often do you fall sick" rather than how thin or fat one is. Body confidence is driven from what your body can do in a smooth fashion on a regular basis rather than a late wake-up-call for drastic measures. Impress upon your kids that being healthy trumps everything else.
* Focus on being "you": There are so many out there to tell us what's wrong with us -- we need to teach our kids to make peace with themselves and to love themselves for who they are. The optimistic vibes, the self-love and positive affirmations are what our kids need handy to battle body shaming and bullying.
Even after spending a fair share of time in the park, kids persist to spend more and more time outside. While parents try their best to entertain them, at times it gets challenging for them to engage their toddlers at home. Here are some innovative tips from young parents and paediatricians on how to engage your toddlers indoors:
Because digital media has such a big impact on children's physical and mental development, parenting in the digital era must obviously take on new aspects. Parents cannot afford to remain passive spectators as the digital world unfolds. They must become an active and alert participant in order for their children to thrive in the new era while being protected from the potential dangers of it.
The most difficult task for parents is to ensure that their children have a nutritious breakfast. About 20-30 per cent of youngsters miss meals, therefore a breakfast for them should be quick, easy, filling, and, most importantly, delicious.
This cold weather brings with it a slew of common ailments such as the cold, cough, flu, viral and bacterial infections, dry skin, and a slew of others. To-be-moms and new moms can improve their health and nutrition by adhering to a few key dietary practises during this season.
Using social media in moderation isn't bad. In fact, it can help boost serotonin and other feel-good chemicals in the brain and can help uplift a person's mood. Most people take a selfie of themselves and post it on social media, and feel good about themselves when people like their post and comment on it. It becomes a problem when this becomes a habit.
A drop in the temperature can aggravate different processes in the body, therefore, moms need to take extra care of newborn babies during winters. New moms can follow the given tips to take care of their little ones and protect them from the harmful effects of harsh winds blowing outside.
