5 Ways Parents Can Help Teen Models Develop Strong Self-Esteem
Hello Everyone,
The modeling world is an excellent place for self-discovery, especially for young people. The different situations a young person can find herself in while working as a model can provide her with life lessons that she can take with her for the rest of her life. One of the most important lessons that young models can take from the dynamic world of their career is the value of self-esteem.
However, not all young models break into the business with a solid sense of self right away. Many build it as they navigate their way around the colorful world of fashion and modeling. This is rarely a smooth process, especially if you consider the competitive atmosphere within the modeling industry. Therefore, it is critical for parents to provide all the help that they can.
Be a Consistently Reliable Support System
If you are the parent of a young model juggling school and modeling gigs, you are automatically her primary support system. During a time when she has questions about herself and her abilities, your love, patience, and understanding will mean the world to her.
But aside from fulfilling this parental duty, there are other ways in which parents of teen models can help in the cultivation of good self-esteem.
5 Self-Esteem Boosters for Teen Models
1. Remind young models that setbacks are launchpads for strong comebacks.
As with any job, modeling comes with its own victories and setbacks. The setbacks can, at times, be crushing for young people. Thus, it is vital to remind them that not all the situations they consider setbacks are unfortunate. These are opportunities for improvements.
Tell them that the most valuable lessons in life are often learned from mistakes. Thus, when situations do not always sway to their favor, it helps to think of them as useful life occurrences instead of defeats. This way, in the future, they can easily meet the expectations or requirements of relevant industry personalities.
2. Explain that flaws are not necessarily drawbacks in the modeling world.
Take a cue from this piece of advice from a top modeling agency for teens in Australia: What some industry players brand as flaws can be the requirement of others.
Standards are relative in the fashion industry. What does not work for one can easily be what is necessary for another. So, always tell your teen model that the concept of flaws in the fashion world is relative. That’s why there’s no need to change herself to get rid of those flaws. She is beautiful as she is.
3. Encourage young models to always tap into their “why” power.
Author Gail Hyatt says, “People lose their way when they lose their why.” Asking “why” is an excellent strategy for young people to understand their values, which can help them feel more confident in making vital decisions.
For instance, when your teen has to miss out on a fun school event, such as a dance, because of a job, ask her why honoring her commitment is more important. It’s quite likely that she’ll come up with the perfect reason to that question, such as the fact that doing her job has a more profound impact on her long-term goals. Being reminded of the “why” can bring her comfort and stronger resolve.
All in all, asking “why” in modeling broadens one’s perspective. It teaches your child to explore more options for action instead of just going with the flow. There’s nothing more empowering than knowing you have options, and the “why” power ensures this.
4. Grow their knowledge and skills.
Encouraging teen models to diversify their knowledge skills will not only help them deal with the challenges of their job much better, but it will grow their understanding of life dynamics more as well. They will see their own life as a massive pool of various opportunities. If modeling does not work out for the long term, there are other pursuits that they can find joy in doing.
What’s more, a sound knowledge and skill set will allow young models to bring something more to the table other than their energy. Your child may be able to interpret concepts more effectively for her work because of in-depth background knowledge.
5. Teach them to filter out negativity.
Negative energy is an ever-present element in this life, but remind your young model that she has the power to control that. She can manage her interactions and focus more on the people who are committed to building her up, such as mentors, friends, and even fans.
Remind your teen model not to feed the bad dog inside of her and instead nourish the good dog (a reference to a Native American’s description of his inner struggles to George Bernard Shaw) that only wants her to succeed. So, encourage her to declutter relationships, turn off social media (and block any haters), and opt for digging into inspiring books and music, particularly in situations where negativity abounds.
Winning in Life
Healthy self-esteem creates winners:
It is a quality that should be developed at a young age. Teen models can benefit immensely from it, because it will enable them to tread their career path with better focus and find joy even in difficult moments.
As a parent, you are an important factor in developing your teen model’s self-esteem, so build it with love and exceptional understanding.
AUTHOR BIO
Adam Jacobs is the Managing Director of Bubblegum Casting, the longest running agency specializing in babies, children and teen talent in Australia. Bubblegum Casting works with some of Australia’s biggest brands, media properties, and agencies to secure talented children to work in Television, Film and Modeling roles.