One of the most successful tools eating disorder therapists use to help clients heal body image…

…is to create opportunities to *see* more body diversity. Like, a lot more.

It’s an easy tool that you and I can also use, in our homes, to help prevent body image issues taking hold in our kids.

And as Isabel Foxen Duke says “we can create a safe haven for our teens to come home to”. 

While we can’t guarantee our teens won’t be effected by diet culture (and potentially harmed in the process) we can do a lot to create spaces at home that don’t add to that harm…

by…

Offering an alternative view on what bodies look like from the homogenous view that dominates most of our culture.

You know the look, showing success, beauty and health as…

Young

White

Slim

With a spattering of light brown, small curvy, euro-asian, rich-old thrown in. 

Your child getting to literally *see* the whole diverse range of what humans look like (think ranges of skin colour, sizes, ability, ages, genders, ethnicities, etc)…

…can have a remarkably powerful affect on their body image. Not to mention our own.

One thing you can start doing quickly and easily is to make a diverse range of body images observable in your house. Think…

Artwork,

Books,

Magazines.

Consider, too, making diversity in your child’s social feeds a prerequisite for the privilege of using the internet in your home. 

Emma x

PS. For a deeper dive into the science behind why teaching kids to trust their unique bodies works out better for them in the long run, check out this 25 min podcast interview with Evelyn Tribole (the original Intuitive Eating Pro).