Body Happy Kids: How to help children and teens love the skin they’re in

by Molly Forbes

We are not born hating our bodies. Make sure your kids never do.No parent wants their child to grow up with anything less than wholehearted confidence in themselves. Sadly research shows that children as young as five are saying they need to 'go on a diet' and over half of 11 to 16-year-olds regularly worry about the way they look. Campaigner and mum-of-two-girls Molly Forbes is here to help.In Body Happy Kids, Molly draws on her own experience and a range of experts to provide parents with a much-needed antidote to the confusing health advice that bombards us every day. This reassuring and practical guide covers everything you need to help your child to care for their body with kindness, including how to approach good nutrition (without falling for diet culture), how to see the reality behind beauty ideals and how social media can be used to support body confidence rather than destroy it. With Molly's help, you can arm yourself with the insight and tools to raise resilient children who love the skin they're in.

Genres: Parenting, Nonfiction, Education

258 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 1, 2021

Reviews

[Gemma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Body confidence is something I have been working on myself for quite some time now, I have been a victim of diet culture, yo yo dieting etc. I decided, almost a year ago now that it had to stop. Forever trying to change my body and for what? As soon as the diet ends, it’s straight back to the beginning and the cycle starts again. Interestingly since I have tried to change my attitude towards my body, I have been to the gym more regularly and consistently than I ever have in my life as I am now going because I want to, not because I ‘have to’. I am not cured there is a long way to go but I definitely do not want my children having the same attitudes to their bodies as I have had.

This book is a must read for parents. It talks about how to spot diet culture, how to talk about food, how to talk about fat. There is a section all about health and what this means, it’s not just about a number on a scale.

There is a section about toys and Disney films. I like how Molly doesn’t just say ditch them all, as this would not be realistic but encourages us to have conversations about the toys and how they are make believe and not real etc.

I got this from the library and will be buying my own. It’s not preach or data heavy, a lot of things we are already doing at home but it reinforces the reasons why and contains lots of ideas and conversation starters.

Highly, highly recommend if you have children.

[Cait · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every single adult in the world needs to read this book as soon as possible.

[Kirstie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice intro to raising kids with healthy body image and relationship with food. Most of this was not new to me (which is fair!) so it was a very breezy read. I would have liked to see more specific evidence for actionable steps outside the little toolkits, but so it goes.

[Lou · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every teacher should read this book. Not only does it hold a wealth of information and education around body image and body confidence it’s also interspersed with useful toolkit activities and signposting to resources. In my undergraduate I studied a lot around social inequalities and gender which has really influenced my teaching but this book has inspired me further - I’m writing to the Science scheme to ask them to remove their “obesity” lesson planning and I’ve added a word bank to the knowledge organiser to encourage better language around food such as nutrient dense or highlighting nutritional qualities and avoiding good/bad categorising. Rest assured no diet will advertise on the gates of the school I work at without conversation.
I was a Student Children’s Nurse before I was a teacher and I know the very real harm disordered eating and poor body image can lead to. This book has encouraged me to not only improve my own teaching and classroom representation but also to ensure I speak out more. I’m blessed with being an “overweight” runner, climber, kayaker with a great knowledge of health - it’s high time I started being/talking This Girl Can not just quietly liking their posts on a weekend.

[Jenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Body Happy Kids is everything I hoped it would be. It is filled with data, recommendations/resources, and activities to try with your children. This book enables us and our children to understand that health comes in all different body shapes and sizes. It provides support on developing media literacy and learning how to spot and reject diet culture. It introduces resources on intuitive eating. It directs you to Sabrina Strings' work on the racial origins of fat phobia. It is just such a beautiful book and I am so glad she wrote it.

[Amelia Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant book exploring the way language can be used to create a healthy dialogue and relationship with food and eating. Molly talks about the neutrality of the word ‘fat’ and a powerful combination of diet culture history, health privations, social media and body movement are investigated for a fresh insight into the do’s and don’t of both language and action.

I borrowed this from the library and will be buying my own for future reference 💛

[Moyra Duckmanton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy to read book, which made me think about the way I tackle diet culture, diversity, clothing and many other issues as a parent and teacher.
I would recommend reading this if you have any involvement with children/teens/young people; our language and attitudes can have an immense influence on their self esteem. This book can help with thinking about how we word things, or approach certain things.

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

An incredibly helpful, clear and research-backed that opens the mind to how our relationship with our body can moulded from a very young age, with tools and suggestions on what parents, carers and teachers can do to help our children navigate media, clothes, consent and anti fat bias to become body happy kids.

[Vivian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly, this book was so eye-opening. I’m not a parent but can relate to so much of the issues raised in this book. Thank you Molly for writing such a liberating book. It’s a must read for anyone and everyone!

[Nadia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book as an educator and mother to an infant.

My main take -away thought is to love my body out loud. I am working on voicing my appreciation for what my body does and how I love it.

[Rachael Campbell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not that this book wasn't helpful but I've read a lot on diet culture and body positivity in the past few years and it was a little repetitive for me. I was expecting more hands on tips for raising an intuitive eater. As a first book on the topic for parents, it is a good starting point.

[Leanne Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for any parent, teacher, childminder, health professional. Everyone!

[Hannah Kerr · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much to think about after reading this. Everyone should read it and then help encourage change!

[KIMBERLY · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everything you want out of this type of book! Great data, quotes from experts, personal anecdotes and lots of practical steps and advice for our own families! Highly recommend.

[Caroline hughes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I agree with a review below, every adult should read this book. The title/cover is misleading as it offers a lot of insight/benefit even to those who do not work with/interact with or have children.

[Stuart Sellers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good primer on how to speak to your children about food and body image in a sensible way.

[Nicola Wakeling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Opened my eyes to the issues our children face and the conditioning that's gone before. Really useful.

[Shari Roennfeldt · Rating 4 out of 5]

An important read for anyone who has a role around children. Well written with a mix of science, practical examples and a toolkit of strategies.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a Mum of two with a history of eating disorder I think this book is really important for all those who have or work with young people. The statistics behind children on diets and with eating disorders are terrifying! I've even bought copies for my kid's teachers as Christmas presents (I know, I'm fun at Secret Santa LOL).

I like the action points at the end of each chapter, that makes it all seem more within reach than feeling like raising kids with positive body image is an insurmountable task. My favourite chapters were:
* 'Social Media is Bad for Body Image' and Other Myths
* Making Movement Fun Again
* Child's Play: The Impact of Toys on Kids' Body Image

I find Molly's writing style engaging. And the reassurance that it's never too late to adopt body positive practices.

[Rebecca House Howe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This should be required reading for everybody who works with children, and every parent should have a copy!

[Michelle Brennan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Informative and a guide for all working with children.