Physical Wellbeing helps your teen feel good about their body and their self image.
Listen to today’s episode or read the post below to learn about my top 3 tips on what you as a parent need to focus on in terms of your teen’s physical wellbeing.
Welcome to the first post of this 8 part series on holistic wellbeing for teens.
This series is on what you as a parent should be paying attention to when it comes down to the holistic wellbeing of your teen or preteen.
If you’d like an introduction to holistic wellbeing, please read this previous post here : LINK.
This first post in the series of Holistic Wellbeing is about Physical Wellbeing.
This is everything related to the physical body, the physical health and fitness, as well as physical appearance and self-image.
Physical Wellbeing is important because it helps your teen feel good about their body and their self image.
The body is part of who we are, so physical health ties in to a healthy sense of identity.
Teens who feel good in their body are likely to be happier and more confident.
In terms of physical wellbeing, at each of the childhood development stages, your kid goes through different milestones and they need you in a different way.
During the teen years, there’s still a need for you as a parent to be involved.
Here are my top 3 tips on what you as a parent need to focus on in terms of your teen’s physical wellbeing:
Tip 1 – Unconditional Love
You want your teens to be physically healthy and to have a healthy self-image, then help them cultivate self-love.
With self-love, comes self-worth, self-acceptance, and self-respect within themselves.
Once your teen takes self-love on board, when they have self-worth and self-acceptance, they will start making the right choices that are good for their physical bodies.
They will set standards for themselves.
They will set non-negotiable boundaries.
They have inner strength that no matter what’s going around them, they will not sacrifice their values, they will choose what’s good for them.
Another concept teens need to know is this:
“Nature makes no mistakes.”
Everybody’s body is beautiful in its own way, regardless of differences, body shape, body type …
There are so many societal constructs that are put on us, that makes us feel not enough, we will be judged, but we can only break free from these constructs by loving ourselves.
How to cultivate self-love in your teens?
You as a parent need to give them the experience of unconditional love.
Remember when your teens were babies and you’d shower your affection on them regardless the circumstances?
Your teens still need that very same unconditional love.
The way you show your love is different, depending on your kid.
You need to help them accept themselves. Don’t criticise, shame or blame, and don’t impose your beliefs and projections on them.
Tip 2 – Connection and Communication
Focus on connection and trustful communication, instead of control.
Do not be afraid to talk with your teens about sensitive topics related to the body, sexuality, etc. Teens are curious around their bodies but some might feel ashamed or afraid to talk about it with you. You family dynamics and culture play a role.
But your teens are likely to be already having these sensitive conversations with friends. They also have the internet at their fingertips.
You as a parent need to strengthen the connection with your teen and give them a strong sense of belonging at home.
And celebrate them when they do talk. Thank and acknowledge them for bringing up the topic and talking to you. Encourage open conversations.
Don’t criticise, don’t shame or blame. Mind your language even if you’re freaking out inside and all the alarm bells going on in your head. You are the parent, you’re the adult, who must stay calm and hold space.
If you’re unable to do that, then know that it’s something you get to work on. There’s still something inside you that you haven’t made peace with. Work on your own self, so that you can be the best parent for your kid.
Tip 3 – Healthy Habits
Help your teen build healthy habits with regards to physical wellbeing.
You as a parent are responsible for setting up the home environment around them. Important things to focus on:
1 – Adequate Sleep
2 – Adequate Nutrition
3 – Movement and Exercise
4 – Sunlight and Fresh Air
5 – Emotional and Mental Wellbeing (Check out these post)
6 – Energy hygiene (Check out this post)
I’ll end here by saying that you get to be the role model.
You have to walk the talk. You need to take care of your own health first. Your teens will see you and learn by example.
Quick Recap
If you want your teens to be physically healthy and to have a healthy self-image, then:
- Help them cultivate self-love
- Focus on unconditional love, connection, and healthy habits
I invite you to pause and reflect on your top takeaway from this post.
What small, simple step can you start doing today to improve your teen’s physical wellbeing?