A young child's self-confidence is affected by several factors, including her satisfaction with her appearance. She wants to look good and she also wants others to think she looks good; a four-year-old who is convinced that she is unattractive is as likely as anybody else to feel miserable.
There are various reasons why a pre-school child starts to place value on her own attractiveness.
First, as part of the growing-up process, she is encouraged to become independent, and this includes attending to her clothes and her personal hygiene. Quite rightly, parents and carers encourage her to take an interest in her appearance. It doesn't take much, however, to rock her confidence. An inoffensive suggestion to brush her hair because it isn't neat, or a reminder to brush her teeth, can trigger off self-doubts.
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