Health and Wellbeing in Childhood

This chapter explores the ways in which children develop their sense of self in relation to body image. The influence of media, family and peers pay particular credence for the child in how they develop an image of themselves that is acceptable or not. Body satisfaction can therefore be somewhat reliant upon such socialized influences in our lives which means that as educators we need to be acutely aware of the language we use and the experiences we provide to ensure they are ethical, responsible and respectful to the children we teach and those we do not teach. To combat the potential of social rejection, exclusion and poor self-concept, educators can integrate learnings of social justice concepts within their curriculum. Using the pedagogical approaches of play, particularly through the arts, educators can support children to focus more upon health than a prescribed acceptable visual appearance, incorporate approaches to appreciating what children can do and how they can support each other, and develop security within their circles of friendship and community.