Already a member? Login

312,083 Members and growing Join Now for FREE

Why Join Blackmores?

Discover all of the features available to members only, including interactive tools, community participation and a free welcome gift.

Watch a quick video

Members Wellbeing Goals

What do you want to achieve? Motivate yourself and others to better health.

less carbs, less grains rebecca, SA

Be healthier Nardine, WA

Loose weight, age healthy. Sue, NSW

2 FINALLY reach my first 'stepping stone' goal Heidi, QLD

Lose weight and have more energy Debbie, NSW

Set your goal Prev | Next

Hot topics

Join health discussions, share experiences and get wellbeing tips and advice. Start a discussion now.

View all

Young body image

Posted by: Tanya Ryan-Segger (Parenting & Children's health)
17 October 2012

Was this helpful?

Body image is a big deal. For many young people, particularly teenage girls, it’s a fraught time in life. But as a parent to two beautiful preschoolers, I assumed the chat about body image is something I wouldn’t have to worry about for some time yet. So you can imagine my surprise when my four year old announced that he didn’t like wearing jumpers “because they are fat”.

Adding insult to injury he scrunched up his tiny, little nose up to emphasise that the word “fat” was definitely not a good thing. I asked him what he meant exactly, thinking perhaps the comment was made in the context that the jumper was uncomfortable or bulky. And he replied that he didn’t want to look like a television character he had recently warmed to - an overweight comical pig. Ouch.

I did my best not to appear mortified nor, give his words undue attention but I was shocked. I have always made a conscious effort not to discuss weight or label anyone – including myself, as fat or skinny. I’ve also tried to apply the same sort of philosophy to food - avoiding common traps like bad or junk food labels instead using “sometimes foods” for treats etc. But I guess I must have underestimated what young kids are exposed to today.

Fat is a word commonly used in children’s storybooks and applied to characters in kids television programs – sometimes carrying negative connotations, however subtle. Being a preschooler my son is only just starting to use electronic devices such as iPads and PCs and although he doesn’t have free reign when it comes to internet access he is pretty adapt at finding information – games, Google maps, – whatever he likes. And of course kids will talk about all sorts of things, and many children have older siblings so information is always be passed on that way too.

So perhaps I shouldn’t have been so surprised? I’m comfortable that my son is happy in his own skin and I think the comment, which so far is isolated, was used for shock value more than anything. But regardless we’ve had a little chat about it - and I’m watching this space very, very carefully …

What’s your experience with body image and children? Do you have kids that were conscious or aware of fat versus thin from a young age? How did you manage the situation?

Comment

Name: *

Gender:

Male Female

Email Address: *

Comment:

I have read and agree to Blackmores Terms of use

* Your post may appear online after a member of the Blackmores Online Team has reviewed it.

Notification

Your post is pending approval

Your post has been sent to a Blackmores Administrator for approval as it contains words or phrases that may not comply with our Posting Guidelines and Terms of Service. A Blackmores Administrator will review your post to determine whether or not it can be published.

You will be notified via email when your post is published or if it has been declined.

For further information about what can and can't be discussed within the Blackmores Community, please view our Terms of Service and Posting Guidelines.