Teasing can have a negative influence on body image and can also lead to bullying. It’s important to let everyone in your family know that teasing about weight or appearance is not OK. For example, we might see a friend and say something like, ‘You look great – you’ve lost so much weight!’ Comments like these can add up and influence the way children feel about their bodies. Sometimes unhelpful body attitudes can show up in subtle comments and messages without us really being aware of it.

accepting and valuing people for what they do, and not commenting on how people look.being proud of things in yourself that aren’t related to appearance.appreciating your own body for what it can do, not just how it looks.accepting your genetics and talking about how this influences body size and shape.making healthy eating and physical activity part of your everyday family life.If you show that you feel positive about your own body, it’ll be easier for your child to be positive about their body. For example, you can say, ‘Wow, you hit that ball a long way’, rather than ‘Gosh, you’ve got strong arm muscles’. You can also help your child spend time on interests and activities that make them feel good.Īnd you can send your child positive messages about themselves by focusing on what their body can do, rather than how their body looks. This might include your child’s sense of humour, effort at school, helpfulness or other special skills. You can let your child know that you’re proud of them for things that aren’t related to appearance. This is about praising your child for who they are and what they can do, rather than their size or shape. use Kids Helpline web counselling or Kids Helpline email counselling services.contact an anonymous service like Kids Helpline – phone 1800 551 800.If your child isn’t talking or opening up to you, they might like to talk with another trusted adult. But you can help by explaining how the images are often digitally manipulated so that people look more ‘beautiful’ than they really are. Some images set unrealistic ideals for pre-teens and teenagers. It’s also good to talk with your child about images on social and other media. If your child is feeling confused, you can reassure them that the changes are a natural part of growing up. This means really paying attention to your child’s concerns and showing that you care and are interested in what they’re saying. Sometimes you can help just by actively listening to how your child is feeling about the physical changes of puberty.

Your child needs your help to sort through and understand messages about their body. Talking about bodies and body image with pre-teens and teenagers

being a positive body image role model.focusing on your child as a whole person.There’s a lot you can do to help your child develop a positive body image, including: You have an influence on your child’s body image too.

But at the same time, fitting in and looking the same as other people becomes more important. During puberty, your child’s body is going through many changes. These factors include family environment, ability or disability, the attitudes of peers, social media, cultural background and more. Your child’s body image is influenced by many factors. Body image in pre-teens and teenagers: influences An unhealthy body image in childhood can have long-lasting consequences. When you feel good about your body, you’re more likely to have good self-esteem and mental health as well as a balanced attitude to eating and physical activity.Ī healthy body image in childhood can lay the foundations for good physical and mental health later in life. People who feel like this might want to change their body weight or shape.īody image can change through your lifetime.Ī healthy body image is important. It includes the picture of your body that you have in your mind, which might or might not match your body’s actual shape and size.Ī positive or healthy body image is feeling happy and satisfied with your body, as well as being comfortable with and accepting the way you look.Ī negative or unhealthy body image is feeling unhappy with the way you look. Your body image is how and what you think and feel about your body.

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