Protect Your Child’s Body Image

What you say can affect your children, even if you don’t think they are listening—so when talking about body image, remember to have a positive attitude. The United States (US) Department of Health and Human Services suggests the following: avoid speaking negatively about food, weight, body shape, and body size; provide a wide variety of healthy meals and snacks, and let your child make decisions about what to eat; praise your child for values, accomplishments, efforts, and talents; communicate openly and frequently; limit TV time, but watch it together so you can discuss the images you see; become active at your child’s school; and support policies that oppose discrimination, teasing, and harassment. US Department of Health and Human Services, April 2017