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The Importance of a Positive Body Image From an Early Age

Essay Revision

Franceli Perez

0159980

College of New Caledonia

English 103

Melanie Law

July 27, 2022

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The Importance of a Positive Body Image From an Early Age

Home is the first place where this mindset should begin; creating a supportive

environment where children can surround themselves with positive talking and bring down the

negative taught about themselves is how parents can play a role in a positive body image.

Although comparison games and the unsustainable idea of the "perfect body" mostly begins in

adolescence, parents have to promote a positive body image from an early age because it could

significantly impact children's self-esteem and their relationship with their body.

Some people feel comfortable with their bodies, while others are struggling with self-

esteem issues. MacConville (2017) believes that body image is a complex issue; everyone has

different ideas of what constitutes a healthy body image. A positive body image means to accept

the body as it is right now, you may not like everything about yourself, but you still love yourself

enough to see past those imperfections.

In her book “No Body's Perfect,” Vivienne Lewis (2016) shares guidance for parents or those

concerned with appearance to promote a positive body image in children and young people. She

explains that:

"Body image is a perception of our physical selves, what we think we look like, our like

or dislike of it as a whole or its parts, what we think needs are changing, and our thoughts

about our bodies. Body image is also about how we feel towards our bodies, whether we

have positive or negative emotions associated with it" (p. 20-21).

The pressure of having the ideal height, size, or weight can tremendously influence how

someone sees himself. In her book, MacConville (2017) explains that "Body image is a broad

concept that refers to the way people think and feels about their appearance. It includes ideas

about how our body looks: size and shape, skin color, facial features and clothing" (p. 11).
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Therefore, support from their parents can contribute to a positive body image; parents who get

involved, are emotionally warm, accessible, and who balance these traits with high expectations

create an environment in which children tend to feel safe, healthy, and protected. Children raised

in these environments tend to grow more secure, healthy, and safe than those raised in other

contexts (Doiron 2020).

Body image issues in children are mostly connected with the teen years, but they can start

much earlier. Despite what some believe, children can develop a positive or negative view of

their bodies, which can be as early as ages 6-7. Body image dissatisfaction in children can often

be traced back to when they were toddlers, and as they grow older, they begin to notice

differences in their bodies. That being the case, parents need to stimulate children of all ages to

feel comfortable with their attributes and combat the unrealistic beauty standards set by society

(Hart et al., 2016).

Body dissatisfaction is a significant instigator of how people perceive and evaluate their

bodies. You may not like what you see in the mirror or dislike your body shape. It can also mean

feeling unhappy with your weight. People who experience body dissatisfaction often compare

themselves to others and worry about whether they will ever meet their perceived standards of

beauty. In this order, children who experience body dissatisfaction should receive support and be

able to engage in conversations with their parents regarding discomfort with their bodies and

appearance, so they can help them build a strong foundation for a positive body image.

(MacConville, 2017).

Therefore, parents should instill positive affirmations in their children as early as possible

because how kids feel about their bodies has a powerful influence on their future as adults.

Extensive research has shown that parents should focus on helping their children become healthy
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adults instead of worrying about their features. Children who grow up in families where parents

have a positive and healthy attitude towards their appearance and health and who communicate

respect for their bodies and others are likely to notice and imitate how their parents talk about

themselves and others. Consequently, parents are a huge factor in their children’s lives since kids

mimic what they see (Carbonneau et al., 2021).

Supportive parents significantly impact their children’s body image because leading by

example communicates acceptance, acknowledgment, and admiration. In the book Body Image:

Psychological Predictors, Social Influences and Gender Differences, it is stated that “[r]ecent

studies indicated that adolescents with positive and supportive parents have more consistent body

image satisfaction over time … and that parents who are critical and unsupportive can have a

negative impact on their adolescent’s … beliefs about themselves” (p.121). For that reason, it

does not matter how young you are; when people are influenced by their parents and have a

positive image of themselves, they are more confident, happy, and assertive. In contrast, those

with a negative self-image tend to be more ashamed, depressed, and anxious.

Parents/caregivers should be careful about how they project themselves and their

message about their body image to their children. If children hear their parents or siblings talking

negatively about themselves, this can lead to a negative body image. Seeing someone constantly

complaining about their appearance can also influence how they think about their bodies (Lewis,

2016). However, by helping their children develop a sense of empathy and respect for

themselves and others, parents are teaching their kids that many different types of beauty exist

and that not all bodies are equal, which can lead them to start a body positivity journey

(Carbonneau et al., 2021).

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Teaching children about diversity will help them notice that everyone is different and

there is no need to fit in what has been considered “flawless”; rather, accept their bodies and

imperfections. Research suggests that individuals with positive self-image often endorse broader

conceptualizations of beauty, including non-physical attributes like personality. The idea of

beauty is constantly shifting, and despite the media’s role in this aspect, beauty is

multidimensional, and there is no such thing as an ideal body. These findings advocate that

parents should help their children develop an appreciation for diversity and encourage them to

think critically about what they consider attractive (Carbonneau et al., 2021).

Children should accept their bodies and the flaws that come with them. Their parents

greatly influence their lives, so they should celebrate what makes them different and encourage

them to create a healthy relationship with their self-image because when it is talked about a

healthy relationship with themselves, it is meant not just in the physical aspect, but mentally

healthy as well.

Children that undergo body image issues are at higher risk for mental health disorders,

including depression and anxiety. Mental health is an essential aspect of overall well-being. It

includes happiness, self-esteem, confidence, resilience, social connectedness, meaning, and

purpose. Mental health problems may occur at any age but peak during adolescence and early

adulthood. Unfortunately, young people who face a negative body image or body dissatisfaction

are often unaware of their signs of mental illness. Many will not seek help until it is too late.

Aside from promoting a healthy body image and environment, parents, teachers, peers, and other

adults must be alert to the warning signs that may develop from these issues and encourage

young people to get help when necessary (Lewis, 2016).

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Getting involved in your child's needs can allow them to be open about their insecurities

and begin to take control over negative thoughts and judgments. Being vulnerable is an

opportunity to show your child that nobody is perfect and help them feel loved and comfortable

within their skin. By focusing on practices that support positive body image, parents can be allies

in the fight to end societal body-related pressures (Carbonneau et al., 2021).

In conclusion, adults play a significant role in their children's lives because they watch

and learn from them. Therefore, role modeling and educating children early on about their bodies

can help them develop a positive body image and value people for who they are, not what they

look like. Moreover, it encourages them to normalize talking about body image in a safe

environment; because healthy children are those who have both their physical and emotional

needs met.
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References

Carbonneau, N., Hamilton, L., & Musher-Eizenman, D. R. (2021). From dieting to delight:

Parenting strategies to promote children’s positive body image and healthy relationship

with food. Canadian Psychology/Psychologie Canadienne, 62(2), 204–212.

https://doi.org/10.1037/cap0000274

Doiron, A. (2020). Body image: psychological predictors, social influences and gender

differences. Nova.

Hart, L. M., Damiano, S. R., & Paxton, S. J. (2016). Confident body, confident child: a

randomized controlled trial evaluation of a parenting resource for promoting healthy

body image and eating patterns in 2- to 6-year-old children. International Journal of

Eating Disorders, 49(5), 458–472. https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.22494

Lewis, V. (2016). No body’s perfect: a helper’s guide to promoting positive body image in

children and young people. Australian Academic Press.

MacConville, R. (2017). Positive body image for kids: a strengths-based curriculum for children

aged 7-11. Jessica Kingsley Publishers.