Body Image and Kids
Consider your own journey with body image and think about what you want for your own kids or kids you know and care for.
How can you model healthy, accepting body image for them?
Be aware that kids can internalize messages that they hear from the adults in their lives.
Pay attention–
Do you talk about your weight all the time?
Do you restrict food and skip meals when you are really hungry?
Do you talk about how unhappy you are with your appearance?
If so, what would it look like for you to accept and like your body more, claiming that it is worthy of nourishment? As you move towards this acceptance, how might that benefit the kids in your life?
Things to Consider–
How critical is your voice towards your own body? (Consider your internal voice as well as what you voice out loud).
How critical is your voice towards your child's body and appearance?
What role does a scale play in your home?
Of course we want our kids to be healthy, but be mindful of hyperfocusing. When does it cross over from intentional awareness to a more rigid obsession or pre-occupation?
Anytime we are tying our own self-worth and the worth of our children to appearance, it’s reason to pause and pay attention and consider how we can move towards a more true narrative.
How can you help cultivate the idea of nurturing well-being and caring for their bodies with your kids? (With this there is an inherent message that their bodies are WORTHY of nurturing).
Notice and pay attention to your child’s character and the character of other people. We live in a culture that often focuses moreso on images and appearance, yet what kind of person is your child becoming?
While often compliments are directed towards the external, how can we bring some attention to more of the internal?
This might look like noticing character development:
Kindness
Faith
Courage
Forgiveness
Perseverance
Children's books can be a fantastic way to share values, ideals, and truths with the kids in our lives. For some recommended books on body image, be sure to visit here. If this topic on body image interests you, be sure to read this longer post on body image here.
Elizabeth B. Burton is a licensed professional counselor and life coach with Burton Counseling, PLLC. Elizabeth lives just outside of Chattanooga, TN.; you can learn about Elizabeth here and about services provided here. Elizabeth also provides support to individuals and groups through an online course on Coping with Anxiety & Stress and through providing workshops and speaking opportunities. Elizabeth communicates about mental health and well-being through both the Narrating Hope newsletter and podcast as well as through her writing. Elizabeth would love to connect with you and welcomes you to sign up for the newsletter, listen in to the podcast, reach out about working together, and connect on social media.