How to help kids develop positive body image
- col-kate-shumaker
- August 15, 2024
- 602
As we move from summer days to school days, there are big schedule changes for everyone: morning routines, meal times, homework, after-school activities, extra-curriculars, bed times and more. On top of that, many of today’s youth feel a lot of stress about the pressure to look a certain way to feel they can “fit in.”
Body image is simply how we feel about our bodies. It can be positive or negative — sometimes depending on the day. Even preschool-age children can exhibit body-image concerns. Youth with a positive body image are typically more confident and comfortable in their bodies and their abilities and not obsessive. Youth with a negative body image may be more self-conscious, have higher anxiety, and have greater risk for weight and eating issues.
How can we help kids develop an appreciation for all people, all body types and all abilities — including their own? Be a role model. Here are five simple things from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics you can do:
Be aware of your own body-image issues
How you talk about your own body, other people’s bodies, diets and more will influence how the children around you think.
Make the focus health, not weight
Filling the pantry and fridge with nutritious (and tasty) foods and making them easy to access is important. When yummy, healthy options are available and easy, many kiddos will eat them without issue. We don’t usually want to focus on restricting food intake for kids, just helping them make smart choices. Find ways to be active as a family. No need to “work out,” instead work physical activity into family time.
Find physical activities that fit your kids
Not every child is meant to play baseball or football, but they may love the solitude of running or cycling. If they are artistic, then try dance or something with movement or rhythm. It doesn’t matter what kids do; it just matters they are doing something.
Be on the lookout for bullies
Yes, this has to be said. If your child is being bullied (they may try to brush it off as teasing) for any reason, get to the bottom of it. If it is happening at school, work with the school counselor of administrator.
Break the myth of the “perfect body”
It doesn’t exist. Help children understand every image they see on television/video, print and on social media has likely been staged or retouched.
Remember, we are all human and all have good and bad days. As a parent it is your job to determine what foods will be available in your home and when/where they will be served. It is your child’s responsibility to decide if and how much of those foods to eat. Role model good eating, snacking and physical-activity behaviors and your children will likely follow.
Kate Shumaker is an OSU Extension family and consumer sciences educator and may be called at 330-674-3015. Like and follow on Facebook @OSUEXTHolmes or visit at https://holmes.osu.edu.