The Media and Reality: Teaching Kids The Difference Between The Two

This weekend I was doing some grocery shopping when I was in line to check out I glanced at the magazines and I noticed a reality star on one. The first thing I noticed was how light she was now in reality this star’s skin is fairly dark about my complexion. The magazine had practically airbrushed her to death. Then they had a picture in the corner of the magazine of what the celebrity truly looks like. I was a bit disappointed that they did her that way I don’t think there is anything wrong with the skin color of this celebrity. I actually think she looks fine not airbrushed. I think airbrushing her would have been fine if they hadn’t gone as far as they did. Undoubtedly I have noticed an increase in the number of celebrities being heavily photoshopped and airbrushed for publications and images that are then plastered all over the place for people to freely view. A friend of mine was recently obsessed with finding plastic surgery in Denver and her hometown as she wanted to achieve a similar image of these celebrities that she was seeing regularly. This makes me concerned for younger people who might also develop an unhealthy mindset toward their body image based o these often heavily altered photos.

I always stress to my children how magazines like to edit pictures and to stress the truth or makeup stories. Private J is always pointing out a picture or some story. These celebrities are not my kids’ role models but it can make them question themselves if all they see is these false pics. Always the size 2 and even they are edited. There is also sometimes if the person gracing the cover is not a size two you only see half their body. I want my kids to know that they don’t have to live yip to society’s standards that it’s okay to be themselves. And honestly, I’ve heard many who have gone through the extremes of eating disorders and have had to seek Binge eating help after being diagnosed with anorexia, bulimia, orthorexia, body dysmorphia, or other problems.

I wonder if magazines care about the message they are portraying to hoping children in their quest to display the perfect body. I want my kids to understand that it is okay for their bodies to have imperfections or that their bodies don’t have to be perfect but them. The person who they wind up with will accept them for who they are. Any changes they make to their bodies will be for their own satisfaction and no one else’s.

To make sure they on a good path to a healthy body image we always pay them compliments. Not just about their looks we always tell them how smart they are. We talk about what a good body image is. We have them pick aspect of themselves that they like. We encourage them to find their own way and style. Remind them that it is okay to be themselves and not follow the latest trends. I just want them to know that they don’t have to try to match the magazines or be something they are not.