Body Image And Preschoolers
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A relatively small study out of Australia has found that preschool aged children are already aware of body image. 53 children in four kindergarten classes were surveyed, and it was discovered that parents, especially mothers, are unintentionally impressing their own image issues on their children. The study found that children learn by watching their parents, and so if their mother is constantly verbalizing her dissatisfaction with her body, they internalize it and make it their own.
I found this study to be frighteningly disheartening. By no means am I the pinnacle of a physical specimen. However, I do not (as was mentioned in the article) suggest to my preschool aged daughter that she needs to exercise more to lose weight. We (my wife and I) encourage her to be physically active because it is “good for her body” (i.e. healthy), the same reason we give her for strongly encouraging (occasionally forcing) her to eat fruits and vegetables.
I cannot imagine what would possess a parent to tell their preschooler that they need to lose weight. Society does enough damage with the messages and images in modern media without parents doing the same thing at home.
Source: Body image obsession starts in kindy via Adelaide Now
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MrsH says...
Sci Fi Dad, I find that moms who constantly criticize their own body in front of their daughter is a much more insidious and I bet far more prevalent form of establishing negative body image in our daughters. I have a daughter and I’ve vowed never to say anything bad about my body with her around. They take in so much!