summary
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do• Be a good role model by speaking about your body in a
positive way • Show an acceptance of different body shapes and sizes • Promote the importance of an active and healthy body rather than a thin or muscular body • Teach your child that self-worth is about what is on the inside • Accept your child as they are, regardless of their weight, size, or body shape • Praise your child in areas not related to their appearance • Teach your child that comparing how they look to others can make them feel bad about themselves • Teach your child ways of dealing with negative comments made by others • Talk to your child about the way media promotes unrealistic ideals about body shape and appearance • Set an example by eating breakfast every day and encourage your child to do the same • Serve regular nutritious family meals • Make meal times pleasant and relaxed • Seek professional assistance if you detect a problem with your child’s weight, body image, or eating |
don't• Criticise your appearance or that of others
• Criticise or tease your child’s appearance • Allow others to tease your child’s appearance • Diet • Skip meals • Encourage your child to diet • Suggest to your child that they will be more likeable if they had more muscles, lose weight, or eat less • Allow your child to look at media that emphasises ideals of beauty, thinness, or muscularity • Have the TV on during family meal times • Use food as a reward or punishment for your child’s good or bad behaviour • Use food as a way of calming or soothing your child • Label foods as ‘good’ and ‘bad’ • Suggest that exercise should/can be used to lose weight or build muscles. |
