Blog 1 - Is it important to teach children about body image in the Health and well-being Area of Learning and Experience?

Is it important to teach children about body image in the Health and Well-being Area of Learning and Experience?

I believe that health and well-being is becoming increasingly important in primary education as the Child Measurement Programme for Wales (2018) say that the number of 4-5 year old children who are overweight and obese has raised from 26.2% in 2012/13 to 27.1% in 2016/17. The fact that these figures are so high for children of such a young age suggests that it is crucial that even the youngest of children receive a basic knowledge of health and well-being in their early school career.

The Donaldson Report suggests that Health and Well-being is important as it is becoming its own Area of Learning and Experience in the new Curriculum that is currently being put into place in Wales. Donaldson (2015) says in his report that children and young people need to experience social, emotional and physical well-being to thrive and engage successfully with their education. He also states that ‘the aim of the Area of Learning and Experience helps to address concerns about physical activity and diet.’ (Donaldson, 2015)

Although educating children on physical activity and diet is important, there seems to be a conflicting statement in the report as the aim of the Area of Learning and Experience fails to mention any aims regarding well-being such as mental health issues, self-image and maybe even the effect of social media on body image. Despite there being no mention of these potential topics, the report does relate to the Area of Learning and Experience as promoting ‘skills that will enable them to develop positive and appropriate relationships, deal with the difficult issues and decisions they will face and learn to live independently’ (Donaldson, 2015).

I believe one of the main topics of Health and well-being should focus on social media and how screen time and social media influencers have a prominence in today’s media addicted society. Being a millennial myself, I am constantly on my phone and ambushed by social media’s beauty standards. As you can see from my screen recordingof my Instagram explore feed, most of the content showed images of models, exercises to enhance different features of the body, images of flawless eye makeup, celebrities and influencers with the perfect body and skin. If this is what can be seen in a matter of seconds on my personal news feed, imagine how much young girls and boys can be in influenced by these images for hours every day. 

There is a 5 minute clip from the Kids Matter Australia(Heads Together, 2016) about body image in primary schools. The psychologist in the video, Annabelle Ryburn addresses that one of the main influences of body image in primary school children is the media. Heads Together links to a Canadian website called Media Smarts (2014), Canada’s center for Digital and Media Literacy, who said that ‘Children are exposed to unrealistic images of both men’s and women’s bodies through media.’

Media Smarts (2014) also suggest that from very early on, boys take a lot of their cues about what an adult man should look like from the media they consume such as video games, celebrities and action figures. All of these are likely to teach boys that it's important to have large muscles and not be either too thin or too heavy. These exterior traits can also promote internal characteristics such as aggression and showing strength. 

On the other hand, for girls, I believe there is a lot more pressure regarding body image such as having big assets, a tiny waist, big lips, thick long hair, fluttering eyelashes, flawless skin, the list goes on. Media Smarts (2014) say that ‘research has shown that dolls and cartoon characters can influence how young girls perceive their appearance and bodies and how important they think it is to be attractive and sexual.’ These perceptions can also be seen through celebrities such as the Kardashians, nicki minaj and other social media influencers.

We could argue that if these beauty standards are so high then how are nearly a third of children aged 2 to 15 overweight or obese? (Department of Health and Social Care, 2017) This factor has more to do with our lifestyle choices rather than how we feel about our appearance. 

The Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) recently concluded that sugar consumption increases the risk of consuming too many calories, the risk of tooth decay, and that consumption of sugar sweetened beverages is associated with increased risk of type 2 diabetes and linked to higher weight in children. (Department of Health and Social Care, 2017) They also say that The School Food Plan, published in July 2013, has helped bring about whole school improvements in food. The new School Food Standards came in to force from January 2015.

What are your thoughts on this topic? Do you think this topic would be helpful and informative to primary school students? 

References

Barbie Image - https://www.amazon.com/Barbie-Doll-with-Puppy-Accessory/dp/B014DEJF7W

Chloe Ferry Image - https://www.instagram.com/p/BqNkhLUhZJG/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=1h5uyzfr36buw

Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) (2017) Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/childhood-obesity-a-plan-for-action/childhood-obesity-a-plan-for-action(Accessed 9 November 2018)

Donaldson, G. (2015) Successful Futures: An Independent Review of Curriculum and Assessment Arrangements in Wales Available at: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=2ahUKEwib75PA0I7fAhVpSBUIHQSJDaAQFjAAegQIChAC&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nasuwt.org.uk%2Fasset%2FA788604C-3046-4005-A1EA0EAFF023E0DD%2F&usg=AOvVaw0UxhQbju-ucdIN0wwul0zz(Accessed: 9 November 2018)

Kardashian Image - https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/m.eonline.com/amp/news/899070/how-2017-completely-changed-the-kardashians

Kids Matter Australia (2015) video available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4O9I4RlNsUIcited in Heads Together: Mentally Healthy Schools (2016) Available at: https://www.mentallyhealthyschools.org.uk/resources/body-image-in-primary-school-children/?page=1(Accessed: 9 November 2018)

Media Smarts (2014) Available at: https://mediasmarts.ca/sites/mediasmarts/files/tip-sheet/tipsheet_media_effects_on_body_image.pdfcited in Heads Together: Mentally Healthy Schools (2016) Available at: https://www.mentallyhealthyschools.org.uk/resources/body-image-in-primary-school-children/?page=1(Accessed: 9 November 2018)

Nicki Minaj Image - https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.bet.com/style/fashion/2018/08/15/nicki-minaj-rocks-burberry.amp.html

Public Health Wales NHS Trust (2018) Child Measurement Programme for Wales 2016/17 Available at: http://www.wales.nhs.uk/sitesplus/documents/888/12743%20PHW%20CMP%20Report%20%28Eng%29.pdf(Accessed: 9 November 2018)