by Lisa Cox     You wouldn’t want your young child entering a foreign country without a simple map or guidebook to help them find their way around, would you?  Yet every day, children enter the foreign world of popular culture. Their young minds are bombarded with a confusing concoction of mixed, manipulating messages when they watch television, read a magazine, see a billboard, go online.

… and so the list continues.  Welcome to the media maze!

Getting lost in the media maze can be unexpected and scary for both children and parents. Poor body image can be one of the more common and potentially serious consequences of this. Your child may compare their own body with the bodies they see in the media without realising how unrealistic, unattainable and unhealthy these images could be.

Disturbingly, poor body image is a growing trend amongst young people. In fact, annual reports by Mission Australia have consistently found body image to be one of the greatest concerns of all the young people surveyed in the last few years. Furthermore, poor body image has been shown to contribute to the likes of bullying, substance abuse, self-harm, depression and eating disorders.

Younger people are highly impressionable which can make them particularly vulnerable to the negative effects of popular culture. Most are yet to develop the media literacy skills necessary to independently and critically navigate the media maze with their self-esteem and body image intact.

Now, as a parent, you can help address this and other issues by educating your child about how the media influences the way they look and feel about themselves and others. Youth can learn to develop and maintain a positive body image in 'Does My Bum Look Big in This Ad?', a fun, easy to read, illustrated pocket book that slips easily into their school bag!

My Publisher Rochelle Manners, (Wombat Books) has been a wonderful supporter of my vision and mission for the book - To educate and empower younger readers by sharing my first-hand experience in the media industry.  As a mother herself, Rochelle was immensely aware of the pressure on young people who have their body image shaped by the media. 

Unlike most of the other literature on these issues, I wrote the book specifically FOR young people.  Importantly, I want the book to help young readers understand the significant role they play, as consumers, in shaping popular culture. I want to empower them with the skills to make educated, savvy decisions for themselves as they navigate the media maze – now and in the future.

Quick tips for improving your child’s media literacy

• Open the dialogue and support critical analysis of the media your child is exposed to. Encourage them to not just be as ‘passive spectator’ but to ask what, how and why when they turn on the television, open a magazine or pass a billboard etc.
• The following suggestions will change depending on the age of your child but an example may be to talk about people on billboards as you are driving past or talk about the characters on shows your child watches on television. Ask your child what they think about it, how it makes them feel and why what they see in the media is not always a very realistic portrayal of real life.
• Remember also that parents must improve their media literacy themselves if they want to pass on these skills to their children. This can also help you as well as your child!
• Ideally, socially irresponsible media would not exist in the first place but unfortunately it’s out there. As a parent, you can help by not funding such media and looking for pro-esteem alternatives. You can find (or suggest) more examples of such at www.MuseInTheMirror.com 
• For more information www.ShapingYouth.org is a fantastic site dedicated to the influence of popular culture on our youth. See the website or watch the below video: LINK TO VIDEO

Quick tips for improving your child’s body image 

• Walk the talk! You can’t set a good example and be a positive role model if you are always criticising your own body.
• Also beware of what you say when your child may be listening -”Those jeans make him/her look so fat” is an irresponsible comment at any time. Especially around younger children who are like little sponges!   
• Compliments are wonderful but they don’t just have to be about physical traits or how your child looks. The same is true for criticism. Even small offhanded comments like “Oh look at your messy hair” may be taken out of context by your child. 
• Importantly, if you believe your child may have an eating disorder or problem with their weight, please seek immediate advice from a medical professional. You’ll find more information at the following sites:
  www.TheButterflyFoundation.org.au or www.BodyMatters.com.au 

About the Author

Prior to writing 'Does my bum look big in this ad?' Lisa Cox spent about a decade working and studying in various facets of the media industry.  Lisa now shares her first-hand insight with school students to promote positive role models, encourage a healthy body image, strengthen self-esteem and improve media literacy. Read more at www.BestSchoolPerformances.com.au You can read more about the book and view related links at www.MuseInTheMirror.com. You’ll find more information about Lisa’s unique story at www.LisaCoxPresents.com

Book: 'Does My Bum Look Big In This Ad?':

To read more about this book, or to order, click here.

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