Summer is a time full of fun and sunshine, but weight-based bullying can make kids feel uncomfortable trying to enjoy the summer heat with their peers. Weight-based bullying can harm kids’ self-esteem and have lasting effects. To help kids feel their best this summer, remind kids that every body is beautiful and worthy of kindness and respect.
Dos and Don’ts of Supporting Kids Experiencing Weight-Based Bullying
Being seen by peers as “different”, such as being overweight or underweight, can be one of the biggest reasons why kids experience bullying. But it’s important to remember that bullying, not a child’s body size or appearance, is the problem. Here are some important dos and don’ts for adults and youth when it comes to weight-based bullying:
Stand up for your friends who experience weight-based bullying.
Report adults who call out a child’s size with negative comments or with bullying to the adult’s supervisor or boss.
Don’t
Joke about size, weight, or clothing — someone else’s or your own.
Talk about people’s food choices or what they are eating.
Talk badly about your body or food choices.
Compare others’ bodies. You may not look like them, but that doesn’t make you look any less beautiful!
Support from other kids and adults can make a big difference to help students feel comfortable in their bodies. Encouraging a healthy body image for kids can help keep them safe from weight-based bullying and empower kids to be upstanders for themselves and others who experience bullying.
