3 Beauty lessons you must teach your daughter

Growing up, we all learn a thing or two about being pretty. From the moment we put on our first poufy princess dress and get our hair done for a special occassion, we are taught that a standard of beauty exists. Teaching your daughter to "be pretty" may seem harmless, but it can lead to her suffering from low self-esteem or having negative body issues in the future. Here are three lessons to teach your daughter about beauty so she can walk with confidence and let her true belleza shine.  

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1. Love your body so she can love hers: Mothers have to lead by example when it comes to a healthy body image. Otherwise, daughters will pick up on those insecurities and mimic them. "Moms are probably the most important influence on a daughter's body image," says Dr. Leslie Sim, a child psychologist and clinical director. "Even if a mom says to the daughter, 'You look so beautiful, but I'm so fat,' it can be detrimental." Be more aware of your comments regarding body image expectations and teach her that embracing certain 'flaws' is what really defines true beauty. 

2. Reinforce her good qualities: The next time you feel tempted to compliment her on her cute outfit or perfect hairstyle, take a step back and focus on the positive characteristics she exudes every day. Is she caring and considerate to others? Did she recently show her generosity by sharing with a friend or family member? Try to make note of at least three characteristics that make her truly special and unique (on the inside). Encourage that positive behavior with compliments about how beautiful those qualities truly are. 

3. Teach her that magazine beauty isn't real: We all fall for beauty tips in the glossies, but sometimes it can give us a warped idea of perfection. "Help her avoid the narrow focus on appearance and consumerism that often dominates the media. By helping your daughter process the messages she sees on the screen and develop her own ideas about them, you can prepare her to better resist the media's pervasive stereotypes," explains co-authors of Packaging Girlhood, White. Lyn Mikel Brown, Ed.D., and Sharon Lamb, Ed.D. Instead, try to challenge those images and help her understand that most of those models are airbrushed anyway. Ask questions about how she compares herself to them so you can debunk the negative thoughts. 

Image via Corbis