A Healthy Body Image: How to Instill It in Kids

I’m so excited to talk about one of my favorite topics today – healthy body image!

As a parent, it’s our responsibility to help our children develop a healthy body image and a positive relationship with food. But how do we do that in a world with so much pressure to look a certain way and be a certain size? After all, eating disorders start as young as age nine and more than 50% of teenage girls (33% of teenage boys) are on diet at any given time, according to Eating Disorder Hope. While society as a whole has a strong influence, we as parents can definitely stand in the gap and push back. So, let’s get into some tips and tricks to help our kids stand strong and have a healthy body image.

Instilling a Healthy Body Image in Kids

Lead by Example

Leading by example is the first and most important thing you can do to help your child have a healthy body image.

Fussing too much over your appearance, constantly weighing yourself, or talking about how you need to lose weight or that you look fat all send a message to your kids. And the message is that if you don’t look a certain way, you have less worth. From makeup to clothing choices, your kids are watching. What are they learning from you? Are they learning that a girl isn’t pretty unless she wears a lot of makeup and fits a certain size pants? Or, that a boy isn’t masculine unless he’s bulging with muscles and works out all the time?

Kids look up to their parents; if they see you struggling to have a healthy body image, they’re more likely to do the same. The same goes for a healthy relationship with food. If they see you skipping meals or bingeing on ice cream, they learn to do the same, especially if you turn to food when you feel sad or depressed.

So, ensure you’re taking care of yourself physically and emotionally.

Eat a balanced diet, incorporate healthy movement, and take time for self-care. When you’re happy with yourself, your kids will see that and be more likely to adopt positive behaviors.

Avoid Negative Language

It’s so important to watch what we say in front of our kids, especially when it comes to our bodies and food.

As mentioned above, avoid making negative comments about your own or others’ bodies, and steer clear of discussing diets or weight loss. We need to be especially careful about our body language and words when it comes to other people. Being mindful about how we react to people of different body types and sizes when we are out with our kids goes a long way toward developing healthy body image because they adopt our attitudes and expressions. If they are going to accept others and all types of bodies, then we need to model that. So, no open criticism or judgement of others. Leave that to health professionals!

Instead, focus on peoples’ character, like kindness, gentleness, generosity, bravery, and so on.

Teach critical thinking about social media

One of the most influential and detrimental influences on your child’s healthy body image is social media. Because social media rewards certain behaviors with likes and follows, kids get addicted to the approval of strangers. And, because they are bombarded with images day in and day out, they compare themselves to what they see, usually unfavorably. Limiting screen time and/or discussing with them what they see can help them form a balanced perspective. Ask questions like:

• How many of the images you see do you think are real? Why do you think someone would fake these images?
• How much do you know about the person in those images?
• How many people do you see like that in real life?
• Why do you think they do what they do? Do you think they are happy, healthy people? Why or why not?
• How does this person make your life better?
• How do you feel after seeing those images? What do you need to do to stop feeling like that?

Encourage a Balanced Diet

Encourage your kids to eat a variety of foods and to enjoy all of them in moderation. It’s okay to indulge in treats sometimes, but it’s important to balance that with healthy foods too. Make mealtime a positive experience by cooking and eating together as a family, and try to limit screen time during meals so you can focus on each other. And, as always, model healthy eating! Let your kids see you eating healthy snacks and making a healthy breakfast. Help your children see the connection between how they feel, what they can do, and what they eat.

Focus on movement and positivity

Physical activity is important for everyone, including kids! Encourage your kids to find activities they enjoy, whether it’s playing sports, dancing, or hiking. The key is to find something they love and to make it a regular part of their routine. Encourage them to focus on what their bodies can do and enjoy their bodies. This is key to healthy body image–loving their bodies as they are.

Celebrate Differences

It’s important to celebrate differences and to teach kids that everyone is unique and special in their own way. Encourage your kids to embrace their individuality and to be proud of who they are. Let them know that it’s okay to be different and that everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses. It can helpful to introduce them to people of different abilities and body shapes through stories, videos, or even special events in your area.

Seek Professional Help

If you notice that your child is struggling with their body image or their relationship with food, don’t hesitate to seek professional help. A therapist or counselor can help your child work through their feelings and develop a healthy body image. Being really on top of this is super important because teens die every year from eating disorders that went unnoticed for too long. Remember, issues with body image start with kids as young as age nine.

Conclusion

In conclusion, helping your kids develop a healthy body image and a healthy relationship with food is so important, but it can be a challenge in today’s world.

However, by following the tips in this article, you can help your kids grow up confident and happy.

Remember, your kids are watching and learning from you, so make sure you’re setting a positive example for them to follow!