Social media presents us with unrealistic standards of beauty which impact adults and children alike. This can be seen in the alarming increase of the number of eating disorders among children. This condition can affect children as young as six years old. Can you imagine a six-year-old on a diet? This might sound extreme, however, if you look closely, you can easily understand how this came to be.
Be a role model
While most parents lovingly cuddle and compliment their children and think the world of them, the same cannot be said for the way that they view themselves. There are a lot of parents who criticise their own bodies and capabilities, commenting on how they need to get on a diet or how they will never look as good as a particular influencer. Children absorb these kinds of comments and apply the same principles to themselves. If they see their parent focusing a lot on a particular body part, expecting it to look or be different, the child will do the exact same thing.
Parents tend to underestimate their influence on their children. However, this is not all bad. Similarly, parents can influence their children to love and appreciate their bodies. State positive things about your body, acknowledge your imperfections and be loving and respectful towards yourself, and your child will do the same. Discuss how unrealistic social media can be, and make sure to share gratitude towards your body with your child. One way could be to acknowledge what your body gives you on a daily basis – such as the ability to walk, run, love and live life!
Have a healthy relationship with food
Our relationship with food starts at a very tender age, and therefore, parents are a big part of this experience. When parents start feeding their babies, their own relationship with food impacts the way that they will form the child’s relationship with food. A positive experience might look like the child being allowed to indicate that they are full, and the parent accepting this reality. Another positive experience can be when the child is involved in meal preparation. Moreover, stay away from labelling food as good or bad. The reality is that a varied and balanced diet is what we need, and labelling food can only create anxiety.
Lifestyle
It’s much easier to maintain a healthy diet and exercise routine if this becomes a part of your lifestyle. The best way to influence your child in this regard, is if you follow this lifestyle yourself as a family. Teach your children that exercise makes you stronger, improves your overall mental wellbeing and can be fun! Sign them up for that dancing class across the street. Help them develop a positive relationship with their body.
In conclusion, it is very important to teach children from an early age to value a healthy lifestyle and to love their amazing bodies for everything they can do.