When your child looks in the mirror, do they like what they see? Do they think positive thoughts about the body they\u2019re in?<\/p>\n
We all want our kids to feel good about themselves and have a positive self-image. We want them to feel comfortable in their body and happy with how it looks and functions.<\/p>\n
Body image is how we think and feel about our body. It can be further explained by four features:<\/p>\n
Body image, either positive or negative, starts to develop at a young age\u2014maybe even in preschoolers. At around age 6<\/a> children start to compare their bodies with those around them. By age 10<\/a> children may experience stigma and teasing about their body shape, and many begin to have a negative body image. This often worsens when they enter puberty. Having a negative body image puts a child at risk for future mental health struggles, including depression and eating disorders<\/a>.<\/p>\n Kids are more likely to struggle with a negative self-image if they:<\/p>\n Studies show us that parenting can affect how a child\u2019s body image develops. So, how do we help our children develop confidence in their bodies?<\/p>\n Focus on what bodies can do, not how they look<\/strong><\/p>\n It’s important to help kids focus more on what their bodies can do than on what they look like. Talk with your kids about how strong their bodies are and about all the things they can do. It\u2019s also helpful to talk about how bodies can function well in different ways. Some people run fast, some play music well, and some can paint or knit. All of us have bodies that are useful tools for doing things we enjoy.<\/p>\n You may also want to intentionally expose your kids to people who have different types of bodies. You can start by reading books that show people with differently shaped and abled bodies to normalize the variety that we come in as humans.<\/p>\n Develop a positive approach to eating early<\/strong><\/p>\n The relationship we have with food starts very early in our lives. Infants and toddlers can learn to trust their own hunger if their parent pays attention to their cues when feeding them. If your infant turns their head away from a spoon or your child says they\u2019re not hungry, trust them and stop feeding them. If a young child asks for more food, let them have more. A 2-year-old isn’t likely to overeat, but they do have days when they\u2019re growing more. Only they know how much energy their body needs that day, so trust their hunger and let them have as much as they want of the healthy foods you\u2019re offering.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re concerned about your child\u2019s weight or worried that they\u2019re not eating enough, check with their pediatrician. There\u2019s lots of advice about how to help picky eaters<\/a>. Never force a child to \u201cclean their plate.\u201d Eat meals together as a family and enjoy the time to talk and connect. These steps can help a child develop a healthy approach to food and eating.<\/p>\n Talk about normal body changes<\/strong><\/p>\n It\u2019s normal and necessary for a child to gain weight as they grow. But there’s no benefit to talking specifically about how much a kid weighs. Let your child know that as they get taller, they\u2019ll usually get heavier. While this can seem obvious to us, young children often need this reassurance. This is especially true during puberty when the normal changes in their bodies\u2019 size and shape can cause kids to worry about how they look. Your comfort and positivity can help avoid this.<\/p>\n Work on your own body image<\/strong><\/p>\n Your body image affects how your child feels about their own body. Kids internalize what they hear you say and see you do, so avoid talking negatively about your own body. Avoid talking about not liking how you look, dieting, or losing weight. Instead, model a healthy approach by focusing on enjoying foods and spending time doing physical activities you like. If you\u2019re struggling, reach out to your doctor or a mental health professional; taking care of yourself helps you parent well, too.<\/p>\n Speak positively about others<\/strong><\/p>\n It\u2019s been said that a parent\u2019s words<\/a> become the voice that a child hears in their head. Of course, we want our children to hear a voice that tells them what a wonderful person they are! You can accomplish this by praising how your child<\/a> acts, what they say, the effort they put in, and what they achieve. Say \u201cI\u2019m so proud of how hard you worked on this assignment\u2014you really did your best!\u201d Or \u201cYou ran so fast today\u2014it was great to see you play your soccer game!\u201d Avoid making negative statements about their weight, shape, or what they eat. Don\u2019t tell them they would be more attractive if they lost weight.<\/p>\n It\u2019s also helpful to avoid commenting on other people\u2019s bodies or looks in general, whether positive or negative. Instead, talk about their skills, kindness, or other positive qualities. If your kids hear you talking about others\u2019 bodies, it impacts how they feel about their own bodies, too\u2013and may lead them to talk negatively about others as well.<\/p>\n Limit media\u2019s influence<\/strong><\/p>\n Kids are bombarded by images online and in all forms of media that can lead to a negative body image. This used to be easy to avoid by not having fashion magazines in the home and monitoring the TV shows children were allowed to see. Now it\u2019s much harder to control your kids\u2019 exposure to these damaging messages.<\/p>\n Start by carefully controlling their access to social media. You can use technology to assist you, such as a monitoring app that helps limit kids\u2019 access to inappropriate social media and monitors their time online. Also, be aware of what other family members and friends allow children to see online. Before your child spends time at their homes, discuss your media rules and ensure the same limitations will be followed.<\/p>\n\n
Here’s how you can help your child have a positive body image:<\/h3>\n