Signs Your Child Has a Negative Body Image
Knowing the warning signs of an unhealthy body image in children can help parents identify problems early. What to watch for:
- Signals that a girl views herself only in terms of her physical appearance.
- The language your daughter uses to describe herself and her physical development and attractiveness.
- Excessive dieting
- Frequent comments about the weight of other girls
- Worries about sexual attractiveness
- Depression and low self-esteem
Parents can help boost a poor body image by:
- Helping children understand that their bodies will change and grow
- Helping children understand that there is not one “ideal” body shape
- Watching what they say about their own bodies and the comments they make about other people’s bodies
- Avoiding stereotypes, prejudices, and words like ugly and fat
- Helping children focus on their abilities and personalities rather than their physical appearance
- Promoting physical activity and exercise. Girls who play sports tend to have higher levels of self-esteem and healthier body images. “Be fit, not necessarily thin, and you will be healthy for life,” is an excellent motto.
- Discouraging children from weighing themselves too often
via WebMD
This is really important, reblogging to both blogs!
Heard the other day, a mom telling her 6 year old girl she couldn’t have a soda because it would “make her fat”. That’s just wrong.
