Confident Me Workshop for Year 5

Appearance pressures have been real for people for decades, but in this ‘high tech’ age access to manipulated images of the perfect body abound.  This week, Year 5 participated in the Confident Me Workshop presented by Dove Self Esteem Project Australia.

The focus of the program was to open up communication on appearance and body image. The workshop was created in conjunction with world leading experts in appearance anxiety and body confidence, including Professor Susan Paxton, Professor in the School of Psychological Sciences, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia.

During the workshop the girls were encouraged to discuss issues related to appearance, beauty and body image.  With the use of videos, stimulus questions and student enquiry, the girls were made aware of how to:

1. Understand the concept of the ‘perfect look’
2. Build Media Literacy
3. Develop Strategies to avoid comparing looks
4. Learn skills to champion body confidence

The session concluded with everyone being asked to be a “champion for change”.  They were asked to write down things they would start doing, or do differently, to champion what is “real” in themselves.

The girls pledged to do a variety of things including:

• Not to use filters when posting selfies
• Not needing to have the “perfect look”
• Being true to themselves and happy with who they were
• Not being “fake” or like someone else

The overwhelming response was to invite the team back next to present again.

– Year 5 Teachers

Click on the image gallery to view full sized images.