Over 60% of Irish children say body image is a cause of stress. In this week’s Rearing To Go, Taragh Loughrey-Grant asks Harriet Parsons from Body Whys and Counselling Psychologist Marie-Louise O’Reilly what can parents do to reassure kids about their bodies.
Broaching The Issue
Body Whys Training & Development Manager Harriet Parsons has some advice on how to approach your child if you are concerned about a body image issue.
- Figure out what your concerns are. Be really clear in your head about the things you have noticed that are causing you to be concerned.
- Think through the conversation you would like to have with your child or teenager. Establish in your mind what you’d like to say and the language you want to use.
- Read up on the issue if you’re not sure about what is going on. Body Why has some great Frequently Asked Questions which could be a good starting point.
- Establish what you want from the conversation and manage your expectations. The first conversation should be the starting point rather than a solution.
Watch the full episode of Rearing to Go in the video above.
