As a parent, you know that the behaviors you model are often parroted by your children, and you’re probably already adjusted the way you act, talk, behave, and even dress since having kids. But have you considered how what you say, do, and even eat relate to your child’s body image?
At a young age, children begin to develop their body image — and with parental input, they’ll hopefully develop a healthy body image rather than a negative one. Children with a healthy body image are more self-confident and comfortable, while those with negative perceptions about their body may be self-conscious, withdrawn, and anxious. Eventually, an unhealthy body image could even lead to an eating disorder.
Wondering how to help your child develop a healthy body image? Here are some TITLE tips for addressing weight, physical activity, healthy eating habits, and healthy body image with your kids!
How to Help Kids Develop a Healthy Body Image
Be Aware of Your Own Body Image
The first step to help your child develop a healthy body image? Reevaluate your own body image and the messages you send your child about beauty, appearances, and health. If your child hears you criticize your own body, they can mirror that sort of thinking. Instead of saying “I’m fat, I 
need to lose weight,” make statements like “I’m going to choose some healthier foods this week!” or “I plan on being more active this month. Who’s joining me?” Rather than focusing on weight, put the emphasis on healthy eating habits and physical activity. You should also consider how the magazines and books you read or the television programs you watch reflect your body image.
Likewise, don’t make statements about other people’s weight around your children, as it can encourage them to develop a negative body image, dissect others’ appearances, or value physical appearance over personality. In addition to developing a healthy body image, you want to help your child value body acceptance and diversity, and stand against others who shame people that don’t fit a cultural standard of beauty.
Educate Your Kids on Weight & Health
Helping your child develop a healthy body image also means helping them understand weight and health. Make it clear to your child that weight gain is a normal part of their maturation, especially as they undergo puberty. Also make it clear that bodies come in many shapes and sizes, and that it’s not our weight we should focus on, but the food we put in our bodies and the physical activities we do to keep our bodies strong. Let your kids know that their weight, body shape, and size are only a little part of who they are, and that their personality, morals, skills, behaviors, and efforts are much more important to you than their physical appearance. In order to develop a healthy body image and healthy eating habits, your child needs to realize that their body is not the end goal — it’s their health and happiness.
Encourage Healthy Eating Habits
Another aspect of teaching your child about healthy body image involves cultivating their healthy eating habits. It’s important to educate your children on nutrition. Emphasize that food gives our bodies energy, and if we put healthy foods in our bodies they can run better. Make mealtimes a mindful, nourishing experience by setting aside enough time to eat, providing nutritious food options, eating at the table and not in front of the television, and discussing what makes each food healthy as you eat them. When packing lunches or snacks, be sure that they are nutritious, so that your child learns healthy eating habits rather than falling back on nutritiously-empty foods on the run. In addition, you should never use withholding food as a punishment or receiving food as a reward.
Discuss, Don’t Dismiss
It’s unrealistic to think that teaching your child about healthy body image will prevent them from questioning their body — or stop media portrayals of beauty from interfering with your education. It’s important to discuss your child’s insecurities rather than dismissing them, and to address the media issues head-on. Rather than dismissing your child’s comment about their weight or appearance with an “You look perfect!”, say “I love you. Help me understand why you feel that way” to initiate a dialogue. And don’t let opportunities for a healthy body image discussion slide when you’re watching TV. If there is a commercial or TV show that depicts body diversity in a negative way or promotes unhealthy body image, take the time to discuss it with your child. If you don’t, your child may internalize outside messages and the progress you’ve made in promoting healthy body image might be undone.
Set Aside Time for Family Fitness
Promoting physical activity is another great way to boost your child’s healthy body image. Explain that along with eating healthy foods, we should also help our bodies by staying active. Help your kids make physical fitness a priority by following our tips for family fitness time!
Develop a Healthy Body Image Today at TITLE Boxing Club!
The first step to helping your child develop a healthy body image is helping yourself improve your own. At TITLE Boxing Club, you can gain self-confidence, build muscle and endurance, and burn calories in a healthy way. Find your local TITLE today to start working on your healthy body image.