Body Image
From the media, social media and gender stereotypes, there are lots of reasons why children could be worried about their appearance or body image. Body image is about how we see, think and feel about our bodies. As children grow, they develop attitudes towards themselves, their relationships and hopes for the future. Developing a negative body image or low self-esteem as a child can develop into difficulties with mental health later on, including eating disorders. It’s therefore important we help our tamariki develop a positive view of themselves as a unique and beautiful individual.
Much of the literature shows that being kind to yourself (self-compassion) is the basis of building a positive body image. This means we need to teach and practice self-compassion so that our children can learn this amazing skill.