Question: What suggestions do you have to help my kids have a strong body image despite the influence of media today?
Answer: From Rini Christofilakos-Soler, LCPC, Agape Counseling Center.
"Kids today see more than 3,000 advertisements a day through newspapers, magazines, TV, billboards and flyers all around them. The result? 7 million girls and 1 million boys suffer from eating disorders in today's society.
These advertisements influence children's self esteem, body image, mood, interests and well-being. How many times have you heard a young girl say she is on a diet or needs to lose a few pounds? In today's society even girls as young as 5-6 years old can feel they need to be on a diet. Compare a supermodel, who is usually 5'9" and 110 pounds, to the average woman, who is 5'4" and 140 pounds.
We as a society are comparing ourselves to women who only make up a small percentage of the world. Here are some strategies to help you battle the thoughts of negative body image among children:
- Do not talk about dieting in front of them.
- Give them positive affirmation each day about themselves and the way they look.
- Do not focus on material things or society's view on what we should look like.
- Do not point out physical imperfections; instead focus on the positives in a child.
- Try to eat healthy as a family without the focus being to lose weight. The focus should be to feel better – eating better for a better you, not a skinnier you.
- If you as an adult are trying to lose weight do not make it the main focus of the household or your conversations.
- Stay away from the scale in front of children…this increases their view of extra importance on weight.
- Try to limit the magazines and advertisements your children are exposed to. For example, no 10-year-old needs to see Cosmo or Glamour magazine staring at her or People or US magazine sitting on the coffee table.
- Parents: you are the biggest role model in your children's lives. Your children do as you do. All it takes is one comment about your weight, your child's weight or someone else's weight to instill negative thoughts about weight and body image in them.
- Instill in your children the idea that we are all different individuals, unique in our own way. That is what makes us special, and that is what makes us who we are!
- Submitted by Rini Christofilakos-Soler, LCPC. She is the owner of Agape Counseling Center in Springfield. She worked as the Prevention Coordinator at SHG for 5 years and was involved in the Grief Support Groups for families at St. John's Hospital. She offers counseling for all ages: kids, teens, adults, marriage and family; she also specializes in parent coaching. Visit her website at www.agapecounselingcenter.net or set up an appointment by calling 217-787-1616 or email: agapecounselingcenter@yahoo.com. Agape Counseling is located at 2700 West Lawrence Avenue, Suite W (next to Soccer World).
