Body Image
It would be nice if we could all just look at our bodies and say,
“Hey, I like the way I look!” Unfortunately, we live in a society
that doesn’t teach us this. Most of us get our ideas about what’s
the “most attractive” kind of body from images we see in
magazines, on billboards, in movies and on TV. By the time
you reach puberty, how many images of “perfection” have
you seen? Counting all the books, magazines, movies,
and TV shows – a million? Ten million? Maybe more?
It’s no wonder that so many of us start to feel there is
something about our body shape, face, skin or hair that’s
not right. Learning to appreciate yourself
and love your own body, regardless
of whether it matches up
with what you see in the
media, is a big step
in growing up.
Source: Adapted from
“What’s Happening To My Body”
by Lynda Madaras.
What is body image?
Body image is the way you see
yourself and imagine how you look.
It also has to do with how you feel
about your body.
Internet Safety
Online bullying, called cyberbullying,
happens when people use the Internet,
cell phones or other devices to send
or post text or images intended to hurt
or embarrass another person.
Cyberbullying affects almost half
of all American teens.
How Are Teens
Cyberbullied?
Being a target of cyberbullying can
be a common and painful experi-
ence. Some youth who cyberbully:
• Pretend they are other people
online to trick others
• Spread lies and rumors
• Send or forward mean text messages
• Post mean or negative pictures of people
without their permission
How Can I Prevent Cyberbullying?
Teens have figured out ways to prevent cyberbullying.
Follow in the footsteps of other quick-thinking teens and:
• Delete or refuse to pass along cyberbullying messages
• Tell friends to stop cyberbullying
• Block communication with cyberbullies
• Report cyberbullying to a trusted adult
Don’t forget that even though you can’t see a cyberbully
or their victim, cyberbullying causes real problems.
If you wouldn’t say it in person, don’t say it online.
Delete cyberbullying. Don’t write it. Don’t forward it.
What Else Can I Do To Stay
Cyber-safe?
Remember that the Internet is accessed by millions
of people all over the world, not just your friends and
family. While many Internet users are friendly,
some may want to hurt you. Below are
some ways to stay cyber-safe:
• Never post or share your personal
information online (this includes
your full name, address, tele-
phone number, school name,
parents’ names, credit card
number or Social Security
number) or your friends’
personal information.
• Never share your Internet
passwords with anyone,
except your parents.
• Never meet anyone face-
to-face whom you only
know online.
• Talk to your parents about
what you do online.
Source: Modified from
For additional information:
Link for parents:
should
I start shaving?
Everyone makes his or her own decisions
about shaving. People have different ideas
about their body hair and what feels comfortable
for them, and every family has different values
about when (or if) it is okay to shave. We
recommend that you talk to your parent
or guardian to help you decide
what’s right for you.
What if I get
my period at school?
This is a really common fear for many
young girls. Before you start your period, it is
important to be prepared. Talk to your family and
identify a trusted adult at school (like your teacher
or school nurse) who you can turn to if this
happens. You can also keep a small bag of
menstrual supplies such as tampons and
pads in your backpack or locker.
If someone asked
you to name my three
best qualities, what
would you say?
What are three
things your friends
like about you?
