Your two children, who are 7 and 5, are playing dress-up and strutting their stuff down a pretend catwalk. To begin with, it’s all fun and games, as they grin and giggle at the funny outfits they’ve created, but when your little one tries to squeeze themselves into a Halloween outfit from years ago and inevitably gets stuck, their older sibling laughs cruelly and shouts “You’re too fat!”

This leads to a big argument that ends with your little one running off in tears. Later that night you find your 5-year-old in the bathroom, silently studying their belly in the mirror, and your heart breaks! They’re just 5 years old and they’re already focusing on their appearance more than you’d like. After all, you know that they're beautiful, but do they know it?

It’s very important that children grow up to like their bodies, even young children, but exactly why is that?

Why is it important to encourage my child to like their body?

Body image is very closely linked with self-esteem and self-confidence, and you’ll no doubt agree that good self-esteem and high levels of confidence are vital and wonderful qualities that each and every child should possess.

Unfortunately, it is thought that children as young as 3 years old can develop issues concerning body image. What’s more, parents can both protect or harm a child's self-image. So it’s important to be on the right side here, to be aware of your words and actions, and thereby encourage your little one to love their body.

So, with all of this in mind, how can we encourage our children to love their bodies?

How do I encourage my child to like their body?

Model healthy dietary and exercise habits. Eat a varied and balanced diet full of fruit and veg and healthy carbohydrates and proteins, drink plenty of water, and avoid junk food and sugary treats. And try to get some exercise each day, either with the kids or around the kids. This will encourage them to develop the same healthy habits.

Compliment your child but try not to focus on their appearance. Try to offer your child regular and genuine compliments, but put greater focus on their achievements rather than their appearance. For example, “You dance so gracefully!” or “You ran so well today! It looked terrific.” This is so that they don’t associate self-worth with how they look.

Don’t make comparisons. Though you’d never do so intentionally, it’s actually quite easy to make hurtful comparisons between children without realising it. Even saying something as simple as “Your brother is so strong” can convince a child that you don’t think they are too.

Turn negative feelings into positives. Let’s say your 7-year-old is worried about the size of their hands, complaining that they’re too big. You could say excitedly, “But that’s a great thing! They’ll be great when you’re playing catch, or if you want to learn the cello.” This will turn their negative worry into a positive

Don’t tease a child about their body or let others do so. This seems somewhat obvious, but it’s really important. If your child teases another, make sure they know that this isn’t acceptable and help the relevant child ignore whatever’s been said.

Avoid negative words. Words like “skinny”, “clumsy”, “fat”, “lanky”, and so on can be really damaging, so try to avoid them entirely.

If your child is seriously overweight or struggling with bulimia or anorexia, speak to a medical professional. Speaking to a family counsellor can be really helpful and will let you and any family members know how you can help your child.

How do I help my child like their body?

Unii suggests how to help your child feel happy in their skin.