Setting Examples of Positive Body Image
Constantly focusing on dieting, being thin, or having an overall dissatisfaction with your body are unhealthy ideas and actions. We come in contact with them at a young age then internalize them and pass on to others at a young age. It’s a toxic cycle that can lead to eating disorders but, this can be stopped. By encouraging a happy and healthy with your body by adjusting your mindset. We can encourage young people to have a positive body image. Here are some tips to help you prevent the spread of unhealthy views and encourage a positive body image.
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Positive & Healthy Relationship With Food
Don’t compare food to positive or negative behavior. For example, say things like ‘I was good today because I didn’t eat much’ or ‘if you eat that you’ll get fat’. Teaches children that eating is bad and not eating is good. It also teaches that being fat makes you less attractive and unlikeable. So try to reframe from talking about dieting or acting like you’re constantly dieting. And encourage children to eat a wide variety of foods. Don’t try to limit a child’s calorie intake unless instructed by a doctor for a medical problem.
Build Self Esteem
An important gift that an adult can give to a child is self-esteem. Children with high self-esteem can deal with the stress of growing up with fewer traumas. So adults need to show children they value and love them unconditionally. By giving them a voice, spending one on one time with them, and not comparing them to others.
Help Children Accept and Love Their Bodies
Love, value, and accept your child verbally no matter how much they weigh or how they look. Teach them that weight and appearance are not the most important elements of a person’s identity or self-worth. Don’t convey the message that they can’t do something because of their weight. But, in a complementary way, notice how diverse we are. And show an appreciation for diversity and educate them on the ugliness prejudice and oppression.
Encourage Communication
Letting a child know that their feelings and opinions matter encourages them to stand up against peer pressure. Encourage open communication and teach children how to communicate. By setting aside talking and listening time and being open and available to talk about all kinds of feelings.
It is important to teach children to have healthy thoughts and feelings about their bodies. If they don’t learn from their parents, they are going to learn how to feel about their bodies from the rest of the world. And that’s not the place you want them to be learning from.
Related post: 5 Tips for Improving Your Self-Esteem
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THANK YOU! So good to find another BOPO blogger spreading the word of body acceptance instead of this normalized idea that we have to hate our bodies.
“Love, value, and accept your child verbally no matter how much they weigh or how they look.”
SERIOUSLY that would help entire generations of children immeasurably.
Love this, and keep doing what you’re doing <3
Thank you so much!
YES! Body acceptance is so important especially for young people. We should all love what we see in the mirror no matter what. So we have to set a good example and spread the word.