According to Womenshealth.gov, a lot of factors can influence a child’s body image. One of the most important is how moms view their own bodies and eating in general. In other words, she’ll most likely learn to think the same things that you do.
For example, the website reports that one five-year-old girl said that dieting means that you can’t eat. Imagine that! These ideas usually come from the mom’s behaviors, and moms usually aren’t aware of the consequences. This is because kids are like sponges, picking up simple actions and attitudes that we don’t think about. If moms are obsessed with weight, kids may be, too.
Weight gain that occurs during puberty can affect body image. If girls pick up the wrong beliefs about puberty, body image can be compromised. This is why it’s essential to explain to your child that changes in her body are normal. She needs to know that these changes are good -- and that they’re natural.
Self-esteem is another thing to be aware of. Issues with self-esteem, combined with peer pressure, can cause a child to obsess about a certain type of appearance. In turn, this can harm body image. Look for these signs and combat them with positive messages that reinforce girls' sense of self-worth.
Know that that the media can play a part in this concept. When kids see the glorification of extremely thin women, they adopt this value system. It’s your job to teach your daughter how to view the media and how to separate a healthy view of her body from a negative view.
Explain to her that not everyone is built thin, like Twiggy, and that her body is beautiful just as it is. Help her to learn to see the media for what it is -- an advertising-driven effort. Educate her as to how airbrushing and Photoshop work and how the pictures of models are usually manipulated to reflect a certain image. She won’t know that at a young age unless you teach her.