This is my burning question for teachers re: this book--
I'm stuck. What I want to know is--when would you introduce the discussion of body image and eating disorders to a class? I don't think anyone would argue with the "pound of prevention" maxim--but when does the prevention begin? Too early and it's confusing/not-relevant/scary. Too late and it's too late. So--when? Negative body image--once it takes root, it stays there, whether or not it festers into something "serious." So does one wait for signs? This is my "deep question." WHEN? And futhermore--HOW? As a whole-class? In a "girls club" kind of ASA? In small groups? How to make it safe and comfortable for sharing?
Okay. That was a lot of questions. What I want to know--When do we bring this topic to the table?
That is a great question and I don't really know the answer except to say that education about "body image" probably should be an ongoing process. Educators can introduce concepts understanding and caring for "self" from the start. I keep thinking of the preschool/K-1 picture book "I Like Me" by Nancy Carlson, where the character shows how she takes care of herself and how she judges her physical appearance with esteem and acceptance. Then I think of the pre-puberty teaching in schools about how the body will start changing and what kids can expect. This would be a good chance to start discussing how ones changing body might make them feel along with how the media tries to tell us what the perfect body (both male and female) should look like. If this can take place prior to middle school then it would pave the way for discussion about eating disorders in middle school.
ReplyDeleteThis is a really hard question and I think that a lot of people struggle with. I feel that it is important to start talking about body images around 4th grade since puberty is starting early in today's society. I feel that if we slowly start talking about body images at 4th grade then it is easier to start talking about more serious issues when students get into middle school. I also think that middle school is a good time to start talking about the Media and how they can greatly have an effect on how students see themselves and like Kathy said that can lead you into talking to students about eating disorders. I also think that that discussion should not just end in Middle School but that it should continue throughout High School. Once we talk to students about eating disorders we should continue to have educational classes that offer insight as they get older.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the comments above that discussions about body image need to be ongoing. I would actually begin teaching healthy body image in kindergarten, like Kathy said teach them "I like me" concepts. You could begin talking about how everybody's body is different, and that's okay. I would probably begin discussing eating disorders in 4th grade. It feels a young, but these disorders start young too, (half by age 10) and you really have to be ahead of the disease and arm them with the skills they need to avoid eating disorders by establishing healthy body images and healthy stress-reducing activities.
ReplyDeleteArticle about anorexia and age: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1318429/Half-anorexia-sufferers-develop-eating-disorder-age-10.html