Protect Your Kid’s Body Image by Minding Your Own

By Kelly Turner on July 31st, 2009

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Keeping your child’s body healthy is important, but keeping the way your child feels about their body is, too.  The best way for you to do this is simple: watch your mouth.

Kids are smart and observant: they are little sponges that soak up everything around them.  They pick up on energy and nuances we often think is above them, and even though they may not understand it at the time, it still effects them and who that are to become. And, of course, they have also been known to repeat things you didn’t think they heard, usually in an extremely inappropriate situation that leaves you blushing and apologizing.

You are your child’s greatest defense against poor self esteem and body image.  Kids are going to grow up hearing they are not good enough, not strong enough, not thin enough and not pretty enough.  Its a fact- that is our society.  It is up to you, as their parent, to teach them that they are beautiful and perfect just the way they are, and all those other people/magazines/tv shows/celebrities out there don’t matter.

Words are one thing, but example speaks volumes.  If you scrutinize your reflection in the mirror, mention how fat you look or feel, or talk about the next diet you are going on to lose weight, your child will start to look at their own bodies and see how they measure up to you.  You are their parent- in their eyes, you are perfect, so if you are pointing out the “bad” things about yourself, it suddenly seems as though they don’t even have a chance. 

It sounds “grown up” to pick yourself apart, because that’s all we do as adults.  It sounds so “adult” to talk about losing weight, and going on diets.  At first its just words, and your kids may be too young to understand what they mean, but as the media and society start to creep into their focus, those seemingly innocuous words start to solidify the way your child thinks about themselves and what you, their greatest role model, have been heard repeating time and time again.

To help your child develope a healthy body image, you must watch what you say around them.  Don’t put yourself down, or talk about how fat you look. Don’t compare yourself to skinny celebs or comment on how you “wish i could look like that.”   Lead by example, and focus on health, rather than appearance.  Along the same vein, compliment what matters. Instead of always commenting on your child’s appearance, make them feel good about who they are- intelligent, passionate, responsible, funny little people.  They will learn the quality of their character, not their features, is something to be proud of.  This is what will give your kids the tools to drown out those “your not good enough” voices as opposed to adding your own to the chorus.

(Photo By: PawPaw 57)