Encouraging a Healthy Body Image in Children and Teens

Body image may mean different things to different people, but in simple terms, it can be defined as one’s subjective view of their physical body. While body image issues are not a recent phenomenon, today’s culture of always being on social media—and always having to comport a certain way through content like selfies—has no doubt made a significant impact on children and teens.

Body image is a major issue that should be addressed at home, in schools, and within communities, as these are environments that play essential roles in shaping children’s values and beliefs. Parents and educators have a big role to play in helping children develop healthy and positive attitudes about their physical appearance. Whether they’re enrolled in local or international elementary school in Singapore, here’s what kids can learn about their bodies, their appearances, and their self-worth with the help of the formators in their lives.

Body Image Issues: A Significant Concern at an Early Age

Children’s views of their bodies change as they grow older, but this change is not always for the better. Parents may not assume that young kids already think negatively about their bodies. But studies suggest that even at that young age, children—and girls in particular—are already hyper-aware of society’s preference for idealized beauty standards. A PACEY UK study on body image among preschoolers revealed that children as young as three years old had developed anxiety about their appearance.

A National Organization for Women Foundation (NOW) survey of 13-year-olds revealed that 53% of American girls were “unhappy with their bodies.” By the age of 17, this percentage increased by more than 20 points to 78%.

Meanwhile, in Singapore, a study on the Susceptibility of Singapore Chinese Schoolgirls to Anorexia Nervosa revealed that 56% of the Chinese Singapore teens surveyed saw themselves as being “too fat” and 38% of them have experienced teasing about being overweight. Another Singapore survey about plastic surgery concluded that about 1 in 3 youths thought it’s fine to undergo cosmetic surgery at their young age, with 14 of the 1,400 respondents admitting that they’ve already had procedures done.

As seen from the facts listed above, body image can seriously affect a child or teen’s self-esteem and mental health. Left unaddressed, it can also lead to further health conditions such as bulimia and anorexia. With regard to mental health, negative body issues can contribute to the onset of depression, anxiety, body dysmorphia, and more.

What You Can Do to Help Kids Cultivate a Healthier Body Image

It’s impossible for children to avoid all the bad influences they’ll encounter in their lives, especially with regard to their body image. But good influence, in the form of guidance from parents and teachers, can do a lot to help them cultivate healthy self-assurance and self-worth. Get the children in your life through bouts of anxiety and insecurity about their body image by doing the following:

Be a Good Role Model

Since children emulate what they see and experience in formative environments, you have to be aware of your own actions and words as role models. Do your best to be kind to yourself and to not speak badly about your own body, especially in their presence. Try to avoid derogatory self-jabs at your own body image and negative self-talk, which could influence kids into thinking the same way about themselves.

When talking about other people, affirm values you would want to emulate instead of drawing attention to their physical traits. An example of this is commenting on how strong someone is instead of mentioning their physique.

In order to develop a healthy body image, it’s also important for a child to have a healthy relationship with food. It will only go so far for you to lecture them about eating healthy and exercising. Model those behaviors by actually eating healthy and exercising yourself.

Celebrate Diversity

In the classroom, teachers can incorporate age-appropriate lessons about diversity, including race, body, and ability. Acknowledge that everyone has their differences when it comes to their bodies, and none of those differences take away from their self-worth.

Children and teens must realize that all bodies are inherently good. One way to drive this lesson home is to focus on the body’s functionalities and capabilities instead of reinforcing its aesthetic value. You can also nurture children’s natural curiosity about people who are different from them. Let them realize how wonderfully diverse the human race is and how beautifully unique each body can be.

Talk About the Impact of Social Media and Other Cultural Forces

Cutting off social media completely from a child’s life is easier said than done. Social media platforms have increasingly become intertwined with mainstream communication. But unchecked forces can also negatively affect a child’s body image and relationships.

Social media often exacerbates body image issues, for example by highlighting celebrities and influencers with near-perfect body images on multiple platforms. Research suggests that up to 88% of girls compare themselves to these images, which negatively affects their self-esteem. That’s why it’s important to balance out what kids and teens see only on social media and to give them enough validation from the perspective of parents and educators who know them and genuinely care for their welfare. It’s also vital to ingrain in kids that not all social media posts are authentic; much of the time, social media posts are curated to make influencers look like they are living a charmed life free of imperfections.

Promote Self-Care

Lastly, if you’re in a position to guide kids and teens, teach them to honor and be grateful for the body they have. In school, encourage them to do activities that make them feel good about themselves. At home, try providing them with the tools they need to take care of their bodies.

Parents who are shopping for clothes with their children should allow them to pick the right size for the body they have now, instead of picking a smaller size as a way to motivate them to lose weight. In terms of health and fitness, adults can encourage kids to approach nutrition and exercise more positively. Instead of focusing on what the weighing scale says, emphasize how a healthy meal and exercise can raise a child’s energy and make them stronger. These changes in mindset can help children practice self-care and cultivate a healthier and more positive view of food and fitness.

There’s still a lot of work that can be done in uplifting young minds and countering skewed societal values that highlight superficial beauty. Nevertheless, parents and educators can do a lot of good in preparing children and teens for the challenges they’ll face in terms of their body image and self-esteem. Hopefully, the suggestions listed above can make a positive impact and help kids see their true worth.