These phrases body shame kids

1 year ago 251

Nov 3, 2023

Aakanksha Sharma

Raising a body positive child

Parents are every kid’s first role models. The kids learn from and imitate their parents for a major part of their life. Thus, it does not come as a surprise that parents also play a role in shaping their kids’ self-esteem and body positivity. And although some things might be said unintentionally or light-heartedly, they can contribute to body image issues in kids.Here we list 13 phrases that parents should steer clear of to prevent body image issues in their children.

Canva

You'd look prettier in this dress if your thighs were not so big.

Equating your kids likeability to how they look or could have looked better in a dress can lead to serious body image issues in the future. In the near future, they might alter their dressing choices with the same thoughts in mind.

Canva

You need to lose some weight!

This direct statement is less of advice and more of criticism. This can lead to negative association with body image and promote unhealthy eating habits in the future.

Canva

Haven't you filled your plate enough?

While you may be saying this because they actually have overfilled their plate, your tone while saying the sentence matters a lot. If the child thinks they have taken on too much food, they might start restricting their diet and food choices in the future.

Canva

I have put on so much weight. Maybe I should start a diet.

Children are very fast in mimicking what their parents do. With a parent struggling with body image issues and constantly being on a restrictive diet, the kid too might imitate your behaviour and eating less will become the ideal choice in their head.

Canva

I hope you lose the double chin once you grow up.

While having plump cheeks and chin are so cute and desirable in the toddler years, if they stay post that, all of a sudden the kid is hit with a plethora of advice on how to lose ‘face fat’. As parents you should not encourage sentences like this within the household.

Canva

You’d look so much more attractive if you were just a bit skinny.

Again, equating their appearance to how skinny or fit they are will tie their self worth to their appearance. Try to make them embrace and be happy about how they look and feel in their own skin.

Canva

Put the spoon down! Is your friend eating this much?

Comparisons never go down like you want them to. Comparing your child’s eating habits to their peers is discriminatory and can pave the way for an eating disorder. The child might become self-conscious about their eating habits and equate eating less to being or feeling better.

Canva

Don't eat that! It’ll make you fat.

No food can make a person fat. Be it red meat or white candy, as long as there is moderation, unhealthy weight gain is off the charts. Thus, instead of restricting a whole food category, try to incorporate it in healthy amounts so that the kid does not binge on it later.

Canva

You will never find a partner if you look this way!

Linking your child’s attractiveness to finding love can lead to them having unrealistic standards of beauty and self-esteem issues. The skinny or curvy models on Instagram are accessible to them in a click and idolizing one of them will look much more acceptable to them.

Canva

I can’t stand looking at myself in the mirror

Children will internalize the negative self-talk parents have in front of them and will eventually equate their own happiness and attractiveness to how they look in the mirror. Your perception of yourself shapes the way your kids look at themselves.

Canva

Diwali is around the corner. Maybe we should diet to fit into our old clothes.

Growth and weight gain are a natural part of growing up and one does not always have to fit into old clothes to enjoy a festival. Dieting before a festival or occasion will make the kids look at easy or fast solutions rather than adopting a sustainable lifestyle.

Canva

We are going to eat so many sweets during the festival. Let’s restrict some right now.

Restricting a certain food category only makes it even more tempting and difficult to resist. Thus, instead of going with a restricting approach before a festival, try to inculcate habits of moderation so that they stay healthy and enjoy themselves without weight gain worries.

Canva

I feel so ‘fat’ today, the clothes just don't fit.

Labeling yourself as a fat or overweight person based on emotions or maybe some old clothes can further the misconception that fatness is a negative attribute. Next time if your kid encounters a cloth they cannot fit into, ‘fat’ is the first word that will come to their mind.

Canva

Thanks For Reading!