Further, refrain from negative comments regarding food, weight and your child’s body in general. Tell your child positive things about her body and her life. Build her up instead of tearing her down. This will limit obsessive behaviors in the way of food and weight.
Encourage your child to eat in a healthy manner. That said, allow her to eat what she wants. Adults with binge eating disorder sometimes say that a parent’s limiting messages about food early in life led to food becoming a forbidden support system. You want her to have a good relationship with food and not a secretive one. This is a preventive action that fosters a well-rounded relationship with food choices.
Communication is also key. Tell your child that she can talk to you about body image at any time without the fear of rejection or criticism. This will help harbor a healthy body image that will last throughout her life. Nothing should be shameful or hidden. The last thing you want to do is to make her feel embarrassed of her thoughts.
Part of this process involves educating your child about the fact that all bodies are different. According to Kids’ Health, this means teaching her that her body is strong and healthy. Show her that it is capable of many things and that her shape doesn’t dictate how much she is worth. We’re all built differently, but kids may not understand this concept unless we teach them.
Also, make an effort to teach her about positive self-talk. Teach her to refrain from judging herself. Remind her that appearance is just one aspect of life, and that what’s important is what comes from within. Teach her to find the positives in herself, no matter what other kids say.