As a parent, you want your child to be self-confident and happy. But, if you struggle with body-image issues yourself, it’s possible that you’re passing along your insecurities. As a parent, you want to protect your kids from all the struggles of the world. You want them to be happy and healthy, with a strong self-esteem that will serve them well throughout life.

Your children are going to inherit your body-image struggles. But it doesn’t have to be a bad thing if you help them learn early on how to accept themselves as they are, rather than chasing after an unattainable ideal.

If you have bad body image issues, here are some ways you can help your kids avoid developing similar problems:

Think about how you talk about your body.

You’re the parent here, and your kids will look up to you. If they see that you’re unhappy with your body, it’s hard for them not to think it’s the end of the world. It doesn’t have to be this way!

Parents often make comments about their own bodies or those of others, such as “Look at this belly” or “She’s so skinny.” While it may seem harmless, these are not the kinds of things you want your children to hear from you. If you don’t feel good about your own body, they will pick up on that and feel the same way too. Instead, find positive ways to talk about how great you look!

Stop comparing yourself to others–especially in front of your kids. Even if it seems harmless (and sometimes even helpful), comparing yourself with other people sends a message that there’s only one way for bodies or faces or clothes should look like in order for someone else’s life experience as an individual human being.

Don’t compare your children to other kids.

If you’re constantly comparing your kids to other children, it may seem like they’re just a reflection of you and what you see in the mirror. But this isn’t so — they’re individuals with their own personalities and preferences that can’t be summed up in one sentence or two.

 

“I think it’s important for parents not to compare their kids,” says Dr. Kirsten Krahnke, a licensed psychologist who specializes in eating disorders at OhioHealth Neurological Center at Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. “Your child is unique with his or her own strengths and weaknesses.”

So instead of comparing your child to others, focus on what makes them special — whether it’s a certain talent or hobby or simply how much fun they make everyday family life more enjoyable by being themselves!

They need you to model healthy attitudes about food, exercise, and self-esteem so they can learn how to develop those things themselves. They also need freedom from comparisons with other people–especially siblings or other families–so that they don’t feel like they are being compared all the time.

Don’t make them do things that you don’t want to do.

One of the best ways to set your child up for success is by modelling healthy behaviours. If you’re a parent who struggles with body image and self-love, it’s important that you don’t make them feel guilty or bad about not wanting to do things that make you feel uncomfortable. Your kid will pick up on those vibes and internalise them as their own–and then they might start feeling like there’s something wrong with them because they don’t want to do something that makes their parents uncomfortable.

Letting your kids know that they don’t have to do anything unless it makes sense for them will help ensure that they develop a healthy relationship with food, exercise and self-care from an early age so they can avoid developing unhealthy habits later on in life when peer pressure becomes more intense (like junior high).

Let them know that everyone has feelings, including them.

There’s a good chance that your child will be dealing with their own body-image issues. In fact, research has shown that about half of all children express some level of body dissatisfaction before they turn 11 years old. And as you know, when it comes to self-esteem and confidence, the earlier you start teaching kids how to love themselves, the better off they’ll be in adulthood!

It can be especially hard for parents to talk about feelings like these because there’s so much pressure on us to present ourselves as perfect role models–but there’s nothing wrong with letting your kids know that everyone has feelings, including them; we’re all just trying our best out here! You can even let them know that if they ever need someone who understands or wants advice about something related (such as eating disorders), then they should feel free to come talk with either yourself or another trusted adult such as a teacher or relative instead of keeping everything bottled up inside until it gets worse than necessary.”

Let them Develop a Positive Body Image

If we teach our children to respect their bodies and accept themselves as they are, we’ll give them a head start at happiness and success in life.

If you want to give your children a head start at happiness and success, teach them to respect their bodies and accept themselves as they are.

The most important thing we can do for our children is to help them develop a positive body image. Research shows that kids with healthy self-esteem have better academic performance, higher social status, and more fulfilling relationships than those with low self-esteem. They also tend to live longer and healthier lives.

Teaching children about body image is part of raising them with good values like kindness, empathy, and compassion – values that will serve them well throughout their lives no matter what path they choose or obstacles they face along the way.

We all have body image struggles, and it’s important to talk about them. But we also need to remember that our children are watching every move we make and listening to every word we say. If we want them to grow up with healthy self-esteem and a positive attitude toward themselves, then we need to start today by making sure they know how much they are loved just as they are–with all their imperfections included!

Need help in teaching your kids to live a healthier and more fulfilling life, book a call with Rita today.