Whether it’s a desire to lose weight, get 6-pack abs or have the perfect nose, we hear about it a lot these days. The majority of girls and more boys than ever want to change something about their bodies and their looks. How can we help to instill positive body image into our children?
1- Healthy role models
Provide your children with a variety of healthy role models of different weights and shapes: Whether it’s your great aunt sally or the gym teacher at school, ensure that your children know that beauty, health and attractiveness do not come in one size.
2- Celebrate yourself
It’s not enough to only stop complaining about our own body; we must also compliment ourselves and show pride in our bodies. What you say becomes the script running through your child’s mind.
3- Talk about what a body can do:
Instead of focusing on looks, ask your child– what amazing thing did your body allow you to do today? Make sure to share your answer, too! Whether it’s dancing, playing football or jumping rope, our bodies afford us the ability to do our favorite things. We must celebrate that!
4- Discuss health over size:
A healthy body is formed when we eat healthy foods, drink enough water, get enough sleep, exercise daily and blow off stress in productive ways. Wherever your body falls after doing these healthy behaviors (barring any medical issues) is exactly where it should be. Ensure your children understand what health really looks like.
Keep the conversations flowing as your children grow while remaining a positive, powerful example. And remember, body image is formed over time rather than in one day.
