Having a good self-esteem can get you far in life. Unfortunately the reverse is also true. If you don’t believe in yourself, chances are you are going to face extra struggles along the way. I am in my mid-thirties and still struggle with self-esteem issues. When I became a Mom, I told myself I was going to do everything in my power to help my little girls develop their self-esteem early on. Even though we incorporate esteem building in our daily actives, I have noticed the girls beginning to doubt themselves.

This last year, my little girls (ages 6 and 4) started resisting getting ready to go to school each day.  This was unusual because they both normally love school. They also stopped wanting to do the activities that they previously excelled in. They started saying that the teachers/helpers were mean to them and that they didn’t have any friends. I knew for a fact that neither was true, it was just how they perceived things to be. My husband and I talked with the teachers and they said things were fine in class and that both girls were doing great. We talked it over and decided that we needed to change the way we praised them in their school work and activities. Rather than always telling them how proud WE were of their accomplishments, we started focusing on how THEY felt about their accomplishments.

It was also suggested to us that we read children’s books that focus on building self-worth, self-acceptance, etc.. I found several books at our local library that worked great for my youngest but couldn’t really find anything that was suitable for my oldest. My oldest is a little book worm. Lately, she has been asking for the tween magazines she sees in the grocery store. At 6 years old, they aren’t age appropriate nor do they contain information I want her reading. I told her I would look for a magazine that would work for her. I found BYOU magazine and was immediately impressed. It was the best of both worlds, a publication she would enjoy reading and one that I felt good about letting her read.

For our review, we received a subscription to BYOU magazine.

BYOU (Be Your Own You!)  magazine is published by Heartlight Girls Publications, LLC. It is geared towards girls ages 7-15. In their articles, BYOU features positive celebrity role models, stories about girls who are making a difference in the lives of those around them, a variety of helpful tips and advice, fun games, puzzles and crafts, and a lot more. The articles cover topics like how to be a good friend, what to do if you are being bullied, developing your inner beauty and giving to others through community service. BYOU was created by Debra Gano, a national self-esteem expert. She is also a best-selling author, former professional model & actress and is a mom.

My daughter seems to really enjoy reading BYOU magazine. She said her favorite part is the arts & crafts. I think BYOU is a magazine we will have in our home for many years to come. It is full of great articles and fun projects.

Connect with BYOU magazine on their website, facebook and twitter.

One lucky winner will receive a complimentary year subscription to BYOU magazine. This is a US giveaway that will end on 5/22/2013.

Laurie

Hello, my name is Laurie. My family and I live near the Oregon coast. When we aren’t at work, in school, or on the volleyball court, we enjoy traveling, cheering for our favorite sports teams, playing outdoors, and checking off items on our bucket list. We are lucky in that both sets of our parents, as well as our siblings and their families, live within an hour of us. We get together often to help one another out, celebrate milestones, and go on adventures together.

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