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Body image issues...in kindergarten?
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Body image has become a concern for young girls everywhere. I'm not only talking about teens or pre-teens, but about little girls as young as 3!
I am not a mother, but I do have young family members, and have seen it firsthand. One of them once asked me about her thighs. Her thighs! At 5 years old! (What thighs?!?)
I'm sure that some of you have been faced with similar concerns from your own daughters. Where does this come from? Is it their friends? The media? Could it be comments you make about your own body that your daughters are picking up on?
With the prevalence of eating disorders in young girls nowadays, should you be concerned?
Eunice, DTR, CPT-ACE
Nutrition Specialist
Labels: children
Yes, I completely agree. Girls nowdays are more concerned about their body images than anything else. It is then the parents job to educate their children about health, let them know that there is a difference about being skinny and being healthy. Parents then have a big responsibility in their hands and should educate their children. Communication is the best alternative.
Body image should be a major concern of every parent. It's not just a mother's concern. Comments of others toward a child's parent, or siblings and friends, can raise these concerns also.
Communication is the key. I was in the child care field for 15 years and now work with young people 15-25 yrs. I see body image issues all around me. But what I notice most is that the kids (young people) with issues can be turned around with enough encouragement and positive reinforcement. I am very lucky with my own daughters. Both are a bit heavy by (haha) conventional standards. Genetics comes into play. Something they have been educated about by me. They know that it is not their weight that matters nor the measurement of their bust, waist, hips or thighs that matters. It is their over all health that matters.
Education on womans health should be their guide. Not what the fashion industry or Hollywood says is beautiful and sexy.
And let's not leave it all at the female door. Men need to be educated also. I am very lucky there also. My son was raised the same way as my daughters. A womans body is never the yardstick with which to measure her worth.
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