Abstract

Body worries are increasingly affecting younger children. Girls as young as five are worried about the way they look and their size, and a third of boys aged 8-12 are dieting to lose weight.

This 16-session curriculum aims to provide children with the information and understanding they need in order to maintain and celebrate a healthy and positive body image. Focusing on building individual strengths and self-esteem, the sessions develop children's sense of identity and the ability to recognise and celebrate each other's strengths and talents. The influence of the media, peer pressure and healthy lifestyles are also covered. This ready-to-use curriculum includes a training session for staff, information about how to deliver the programme, guidelines on creating a whole-school approach, a parent workshop and creative activities with photocopiable worksheets.

Focusing on an increasingly important issue, this is an ideal programme for teachers, youth workers and others working with children aged 7-11.

It is crucial to introduce body image education at the Primary School Stage. This book provides some great ideas on how to address this important topic, with well structured lessons which have clear links to the PSHE curriculum.
Nicky Hutchinson & Chris Calland, authors of Body Image in the Primary School and education consultants
Beyond relevant in Education right now! With increasing access to social media, children from a young age require high quality education on positive body image and self worth. This book provides a practical way to do just that for educators, including key links to the national curriculum and the PSHE Association.
Abbigael Bainton, teacher and PSHE co-ordinator
This programme has answered a lot of the questions I had about the pupils I am working with and has enabled me to support them in a more effective and informed way. The resources are clearly linked to the curriculum, making it easy to include them in planning. I will be recommending this book to all the schools I support.
Nicki Jennings, SEMH and Behaviour Specialist, Giraffe Training
Ruth MacConville is Head of the Special Educational Needs Services, London Borough of Ealing, UK, and has previously worked as a teacher. She is the author of several books on promoting happiness, resilience and well-being in young people. She lives in London, UK.
This resource will prove a godsend for staff keen to boost young people's body confidence, self-esteem and resilience, but unsure where to start. The book boasts a series of engaging, interactive and relevant lessons, as well as developing teacher skills and knowledge to ensure safe and sensitive delivery of this comprehensive curriculum.
Dr Pooky Knightsmith, Child & Adolescent Mental Health Specialist, and Author of Self-Harm and Eating Disorders in Schools