How to help your child to be body confident

Body image can be an issue for many of us, but especially children and teenagers. As they go through physical changes, they can become conscious of what their body is doing and what they look like.

You can help your child or teen to love themselves and their body.

Try not to use the word “weight” with your child. Talk about self-care, feeling healthy and foods and exercise that give you energy. If you do need to talk about weight, make sure your child knows it’s only one measure of health.

Talk about how there are many different body shapes and sizes and that’s OK. Be positive about people of all shapes and sizes in real life and in the media or on TV.

Show your child what makes them special. Give them the confidence to be OK with anything that they think makes them different.

• Get your family to list their achievements, talents and positive behaviour. Keep the list updated.
• Reward your child for who they are. For example, praising their kindness, or saying you love their jokes.
• Read books together about being unique, such as Oh, The Places You’ll Go by Dr Seuss.
• Be aware of how your child feels about themselves and how to support-self esteem.

• Celebrate what your child’s bodies can do. Gardening or going for a walk together is a good start.
• Talk to your child about the images they see on the internet, in magazines and on TV. Look for ways these may have been styled or airbrushed. Discuss if this changes how your child feels about them.
• Help your child notice their mood after using social media. Do they compare themselves to others?
• Help your child have a healthy relationship with food. We have some advice on what to do if you’re worried about your child’s eating habits.

Think about how you talk about your own body. Try not to talk about dieting in front of your child. Show self-love. How you treat yourself affects how your child treat themselves now and in the future. You can also:

• Make healthy choices about food. Try not to buy crisps, cakes and biscuits . Have healthy snacks available.
• Encourage your child to do sports and exercise with you or with other children.
• Grow fruit and vegetables in pots and baskets so they learn where food comes from.
• Get creative in the kitchen with your child. They’ll be more likely to try new foods and tuck in to what they’ve made.