How to Encourage Body Positivity in Your Children

Casey Ribek - 14 Nov 18

Body image is “the subjective picture or mental image of one’s own body.” And since body image is subjective, everyone has their own view of their body. That means that someone can tell you that they think your body is beautiful, but you might not see it. Unfortunately, body image is a serious problem among much of our nation’s population, particularly our youth.

Poor body image and the pressure to look “perfect” has taken a serious toll on many living in our country. In fact, young girls are more afraid of getting fat than they are of cancer, nuclear war, and losing their parents. More than 80% of 10-year-old girls have dieted, and body dissatisfaction has more than tripled in the last 30 years.

This issue of poor body image is not exclusive to girls either. Nearly 12% of teenage boys have reported using supplements and/or steroids to achieve the “ideal” body image. Social media plays a big role in these devastating facts as well. Almost 42% of females reported feeling worse about their bodies because of social media. 

On average, American children spend more than seven and a half hours on social media every day. These platforms create a media of comparison, ultimately leading to feelings of inadequacy. While 60% of people aged 26 to 73 are affected negatively by social media, more than 90% of girls ages 13 through 18 feel pressure from fashion and media industries to be skinny.

Help Your Children Create a Positive Body Image Every Day

While much of this information seems scary and downright depressing, there is a bright side. With the right role models, healthy relationships, and positive encouragement, you can boost your children’s’ confidence so that they feel like rock stars.

• When you hear your child talking negatively about their body, don’t argue with them. This will only make them feel like their concerns haven’t been heard or their feelings aren’t valid. Everyone is entitled to their emotions. Let them express their thoughts and then gently guide the conversation in a more positive direction.
• Write a positive note about other strengths your child has and stick it on their bathroom mirror or in their lunch box. They’ll see it every morning when they get ready to start the day or in the afternoon between class time, and it can help give them that little boost they need.
• Buy clothes that make them feel good about themselves. Whether it’s an entire outfit or one article of clothing, feeling good in one’s clothes can make a huge difference for the day.
  
• Make affirmation cards that they can look at every day when they’re having a rough time or they’re thinking bad thoughts about their body. This is similar to the note on the mirror tip.
• Practice body positivity yourself. Children model their behavior after their parents’ — whether they want to admit it or not.
• Remember to praise their behaviors and actions, not the things they have little or no control over.
• Remind them that the body has a very important and complex job — to keep us alive! Teach them to show gratitude for their body’s hard work.

We all have bodies, and we all have bad days. Help your child remember that just because their body doesn’t look like the girl on their softball team or the guy they see at the gym every day, doesn’t mean they aren’t beautiful in their own right. They are worthy of love and happiness. Cut the body negativity out of your life and you’ll start to see things turn around for the better in your children’s lives as well.

Casey Ribek

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