Development
7-9 Yrs: Grown-up Insecurities
Achievement is becoming important to your child. She
enjoys displaying her talents to her friends, and thinks success is a
requirement for respect within the peer group.
Conversely, failure upsets her and she easily loses
confidence. Your child is increasingly competitive and self-consciopus.
She is very aware of her weaknesses and sees them as making her different
from her peers.
Does
my bum look big in this?
Self-consciousness also applies to physical attributes. Boys may fear
they are abnormally short or skinny. Girls may worry about being too tall
or too plump. Early puberty can be tough for these reasons - girls often
try to cover swelling breasts with loose clothing and may be horrified
at the prospect of early menstruation.
Peer pressure
Having the right clothes and the right looks is
becoming important to your child. Many children are plump at this age.
They may be teased about it or even bullied. Watch your child at this
critical period. More and more children (not only girls) are reported
to be dieting at ever-younger ages.
Eat properly but don't diet
Help her understand that self-esteem comes
from more than the way she looks. Build her confidence by stressing the
things she is good at. Discourage her from worrying about her weight.
Assure her that if she eats well and takes exercise, there is no need
for diets.
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