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Raise Confident, Body-Positive Girls

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Explain how those /images are manipulated - designers are able to airbrush cellulite and wrinkles, crop out bulges, make breasts larger, and basically remodel a woman's body. Carry that message of unrealistic images over to her playthings, like Barbies, who are completely disproportionate. It may not make sense to a 3-year-old, but it's never too early to plant the seed. As they mature, try to expose daughters to a mix of activities instead of just dance or other "girly" pursuits.

Up to 40 percent of girls begin dieting by age 10, and 57 percent say they want to lose weight because of what they've seen in magazines - a frightening statistic that makes it even more important to help girls understand that there are different body types. Shift the focus from dieting to healthy eating and a healthy lifestyle. Help your tween or teen girl understand that her self-esteem shouldn't lie in her looks alone, and reinforce that idea by monitoring your own comments. A mom who is positive about her own body is better equipped to raise a daughter who's confident about hers.