social influences: extended family
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Children can spend time in the care of other family members, including grandparents, aunts, and uncles. The people who are important to your child are also likely to influence your child’s attitudes and behaviours. Family members often mean well, but it can be difficult dealing with their opinions about how you’re raising your child (e.g., telling you to feed your child more), or the comments they might make in front of your child (e.g., telling your child they are cute and chubby).

All families are different and have different ways of dealing with things. Where possible you can try to talk to your family about the kind of environment you are trying to create for your child by providing them with a copy of the Confident Body Confident Child Extended Family Book (contact [email protected] for a copy).

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Tips for dealing with extended family
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•  Discourage family from talking about appearance in a negative way (i.e., their, your, or others appearance),
    especially in front of your child.

•  Discourage others from teasing your child or others about their appearance.

•  Discourage others from comparing your child’s size, shape, and appearance with others.

•  When your child is not around, try to talk to family members about the positive environment you’re trying to create for your 
    child. Explain how grateful you are for the time they spend with your child and how much your child loves them, and this is 
    why their influence is so important.

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