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Wednesday, 04 June 2008 10:01 |
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Raising a pre-teen or teenage daughter (or son) is not easy and
can cause any parent a lot of stress. There’s so much to worry
about – dating, drugs, alcohol, sex, school grades, just to name
a few. But one crucial element often gets overlooked until it
manifests itself in extreme ways (like through an eating
disorder). I’m talking about self-image. It’s extremely
important that parents ensure that their children have a
positive self-image, especially in relation to their body.
The key to ensuring strong self-esteem and a positive body image
starts with the parent. If you don’t feel positive about your
self-image, then how can you expect your children to? While this
is important for both daughters and sons, it is especially
critical for raising a healthy daughter. And beginning the
lessons when a girl is young is imperative, so don’t wait until
it’s too late – teaching your daughter to feel good about her
body needs to start at a very young age.
Eating disorder experts say girls are developing eating
disorders as young as 5 and 6 years old. And a recent study
indicated that 70% of the sixth-grade girls they surveyed said
they began worrying about their weight between ages 9 and 11.
Why are so many young girls thinking that they are fat? Many are
obsessing about their weight because they have parents who are
preoccupied with their own poor body images.
While the statistics are disheartening, the good news is that
there’s a lot that can be done to help our children have
positive self-images. And, even small changes that parents make
can help. Here are few tips to help your children avoid warped
and negative body images:
·Establish a “no diet talk” rule. When your children are nearby,
DON’T talk about dieting or how fat you feel! This is extremely
important. Remember, kids are listening all the time (even when
you think that they aren’t – especially then). So, even though
asking your spouse or friend “do I look fat in this?” may seem
innocent, it can have a life-altering effect on your kids when
they repeatedly hear it. ·Parents aren’t the only adults that
influence their children. Set the “no diet talk” rule mentioned
above for all adults that are around your children. This means
you shouldn’t allow your friends, parents, siblings, neighbors,
or anyone else to talk about being fat or being on a diet when
they are around your children. ·Set a good example. If your
children never see you engage in fitness or if they hear you
complain about working out, then they are going to have a
negative image of exercise. Let them know that you workout to
stay healthy, to be strong and to have more energy and stamina
(so you can keep up with them)! ·Get your kids involved in
sports. Experts say that playing sports really helps build
confidence and improves self-esteem (especially for girls).
·Teach your children to include physical activity as part of
their daily routine. But don’t force them to exercise. Make sure
that the physical activity is seen as something fun to do rather
than teaching them to think of exercise as a necessary evil.
Good activities include taking a nightly family walk, turning
off the t.v. and instead turning music on that you all can dance
to, or taking a weekend family bike ride. ·Try to prepare (or if
you are short are time purchase) healthy meals. And teach them
the importance of good nutrition. Don’t let them have the
misconception that there are “good” and “bad” foods. If a kid
thinks that candy is a “bad” food, then naturally they will just
want it more. Just try to encourage your kids to eat a balanced
diet each day and to eat sugary or fatty foods in moderation.
Remember that something as small as talking about losing weight
in front of your kids can have very detrimental effects on their
self-image as they age. Damaging behavior learned from a parent
at a young age can take years for a child to overcome. So, the
sooner you start incorporating the tips above into your life,
the better for you child. But don’t forget that it has to start
with you – make sure that you are incorporating healthy fitness
and eating rituals into your daily routine and that you have a
positive body image (no matter what your size or shape is)!
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