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| Home > Family |
Teach Children Positive Self-Image
Through Fitness
Lynn Bode
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)!
About the author: Lynn Bode is a certified personal trainer specializing in
Internet-based fitness programs. She founded Workouts For You, which provides
affordable online exercise programs that are custom designed for each
individual. Visit:
http://www.workoutsforyou.com for a free sample workout and to sign-up for
their monthly fitness newsletter. Fitness professionals, visit:
http://www.trainerforce.com
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