“In the social jungle of human existence, there is no feeling of being alive without a sense of identity,” Erik Erikson.

Have you ever thought that giving your daughter/son full freedom of expression over what they wear can be a great way to build confidence? This allows their individual style and self-assurance to grow. Teenage-style trends can stretch any parent’s patience to the limit. As they mature the more likely they are to start experimenting with her style and appearance.

They begin to take control of their own look and figuring out what works. But with so many different influences out there – from media and celebrities to peers and interests – some of these experiments are bound to be more extreme than others. But it can be positive for your child’s self-esteem to have the space to express individuality.

All too often, teens struggle to find their unique style as there is huge pressure to conform to the look that their friends have adopted. Allow some freedom of expression to help grow as a person and have the confidence to be their own beautiful self. Eventually they will find a style and look that suits him or her.

Build self-confidence by supporting your children’s individuality. Try to see past the latest craze or fashion phase and look for the benefits in each stage of the experimentation. For example, if they dyeing their hair darker or you find your daughter painting her nails rainbow colours to stand out from the crowd, recognise the strength of independent thinking and appreciate their creativity.

It might not be the look you would choose for your children, but that doesn’t necessarily make it wrong. This latest push may be one of several in quick succession, but equally it could indicate a personality trait that is important for you to recognise and nurture. Resistance is probably pointless so rather encourage them to be their own person and not to follow the crowd, it will somehow pay off.

Embrace them expressing their individuality by valuing the ideas and showing them just how much fun it is by simply exploring what suits them best. It could be one of the best ways to boost self-confidence. Help to nurture an appreciation for different looks and styles that go beyond the stereotypes of beauty that so many others aspire to – then the process of discovering her own unique identity can be enjoyed. Someone once said: “Imagine how boring it would be if we were all the same.”