Lesson Idea | Self-Esteem and Body Image Activities for Kids

Ages: 9-14 years old
Duration: 45 minutes
What You Need: white board or flipchart and markers
Resources: Healthy Families Newsletter

It’s important to teach kids about positive body image at a young age. Children should grow up thinking about what makes them unique, instead of constantly comparing themselves to others. Try these self-esteem activities and body image activities, designed for students from elementary school to junior high school.

Self-Esteem Lesson Plan Overview

This lesson helps young people reflect on the messages they get and give (including to themselves) about personal worth and value. They learn steps they can take to feel confident and good about themselves.

Instructor Notes

Before facilitating this lesson plan, you may want to review the following information about self-esteem. These facts can be shared with young people during your discussions.

1. Self-esteem is how you feel about yourself. These feelings can change as things in your life change, such as going to a new school or becoming a brother or sister.
2. Self-esteem can be positive (you love, respect, and trust yourself) or negative (you feel insecure and helpless).
3. Body image is part of self-esteem. It is how you feel about how you look. Body image also includes how you think others see you.
4. Having a positive body image means that you:
- feel comfortable in your body and with the way you look
- feel good about the things your body can do
- feel empowered to take good care of your physical health.
5. It is common to struggle with body image, no matter who you are, but there are things you can do to help yourself feel good.

Introduction

Ask young people to brainstorm a list of ways people are different from each other. Include physical differences (such as eye color) and non-physical (such as favorite kinds of music). Make a list on a whiteboard or flipchart. Things on the list might include:

- likes/dislikes
- abilities (some people are good at math, some at writing, some at art, some at sports, some at music, etc.)
- interests
- height
- weight
- body build (slender, muscular, etc.)
- complexion
- hair colors/type (straight, curly, etc.)
- eye color
- preferences

Point out that some things we can change through effort (by studying, practicing, and learning), some things are out of our power to change (height, race, and who our parents are), and some will change over time (our natural hair color, our joints and muscles, and our experiences).

For further information, please visit Health Powered Kids website.