10 year old body image

[Blurghy]

How do I help my kid feel better about her body? She doesn’t like her red hair, thinks her feet are weird and is convinced she is fat (which she definitely isn’t). She is comparing herself a lot to other kids and is very sensitive to cultural messages around what people ‘should’ look like. This is despite me always being very careful not to be negative about my looks or talk about dieting etc.

I talk about all bodies being different, being kind to yourself etc but she doesn’t really buy it. Has anyone experienced this and what helped? The thing I worry about most is it turning into an eating disorder one day.

Everyone makes good points. I never talk about her looks because I don’t want her to think it matters. But that’s a bit naïve really because all the other messages she’s receiving are saying it does matter. @Nottodaysausage I don’t have a clue about fashion, where do I start?

@Zola1
Fantastic post.
What a great role modal /s.

Interesting to read this. My daughter is also like this.. every morning she gets all worked up because her hair is"horrible" and she thinks she's ugly and fat. She compares herself to girls at school (she isn't on social media) and also her sister who looks different to her (small for her age and very skinny). She is also in to gymnastics and often watches videos of pro Gymnasts doing moves, and they are usually very slim obviously. You can't get away from it so I wouldnt see much point in removing phones, magazines etc.

Its so sad, but I remember feeling the same. I read somewhere that preteens-teens natural brain development leads them to be very self focused. They often think the whole world is watching and judging them. As we get older we start to realise that nobody is actually THAT bothered...everyone is getting on with their own lives too much to care about that freckle on your face... But they're still too young for this concept.
I don't think there is a great deal you can say to change their mind other than just be a support and let them get their worries out to you...even if you don't have the solution. It has definitely helped letting my daughter choose her "look". She tries clothes on in the shop and chooses what she feels confident in (and it's usually not anything like what I would have chosen for her!!)