Posts Tagged ‘Child Psychology’

Have you ever wondered how emotional eating becomes a habit? As parents, we are role models for children, either good or bad and unfortunately, it is usually us who teaches a children the concept of emotional eating.

Remember when your babies were learning to walk. Or when your toddler fell over because they tried to walk or run too fast.

Do you remember seeing a baby trying to walk for the first time? Definitely a case of practice makes perfect. Initially they learn to stand and wobble and then fall down. It is also a time in which tears are common. Sometimes because the child is startled by the fall other times they hurt themselves by hitting body parts on floors or furniture. The child will cry for a few minutes, but soon determination makes them try again and eventually they succeed.

But there is another side to this story. Within seconds of the child falling a parent or other adult will usually reach out and try and comfort the child and this is great. It’s important to comfort the child and reassure them that it everything is okay. But how we comfort them can have far reaching and unforseen effects on the child. Do we simply cuddle them, or do we reach for a treat like a cookie, the pacifier or a bottle of milk.

If our response is the latter then there are lessons the child will learn from this, including:

• If you feel upset, eating is comforting.
• It’s NOT okay to show your emotions. Shove something in your mouth to replace those feelings quickly.

If no food was offered then the child could be comforted by the hug from the adult. The pain or fright soon goes away and the crying stops. But instead the child is being taught the concept of comfort eating. Even worse if they were given a sweet treat then they have been given a taste for sugar and that becomes addictive in itself.

Here is another example, this time for an older child. Their room is a mess and we want them to clean it up. So we offer them a candy and a soda if they will clean up. Uh oh… trouble brewing again! The lesson learned… When you work or achieve something, eat a sweet treat to reward yourself!

Unfortunately, unless we later study food and nutrition, then the food lessons we are taught as children are passed on to the next generation. Why? Because we don’t know any better ourselves!

As you can see, we need to consider what food lessons our children learn from our actions:

• Do we food to bribe our children to do things?
• Do we use food to comfort our children?
• Do we use food to encourage children to conceal their feelings?

Learn to understand the lessons your actions teach so you can break the cycle and ensure that your child never relies on emotional eating. Whether you like it or not, as parents you are important role models for children.

Building child self esteem would have to be one of the most difficult tasks that parents face. First we have to ask ourselves, how is our own self esteem? You see, those who have self esteem issues will have difficulty building self esteem in their children. Being confident in ourselves is the first step in building child self esteem.

This doesn’t mean that if you have low self esteem that your children are doomed to suffer the same issue. Not at all, it simply means that building child self esteem will be more of a challenge for you. The good thing is, you already know at least some of the things that can undermine their confidence in themselves. Therefore, you know some of the pitfalls to avoid.

Life is a cycle in which we learn good and bad lessons from parents and peers. Whatever conclusions we draw from our experiences we pass on to the next generation, and they then pass it on to the next etc. Although it may be tempting to blame school or society for the issues children face, we have to keep in mind that most of the lessons they learn whether good or bad are learnt in the home. Remember the old saying, ‘children learn what they live’.

If we lack self esteem or have weight problems then it shouldn’t be surprising if our children face the same problems. If you watch every thing you eat and make a big deal of it because you’re worried about getting fat or if your self worth is based on how fat you are then don’t be surprised if your children think the same way.

If children think they can only be loved if their body is slim then maybe you need to look at your attitude. Do you comment about how unnattractive fat is? While it’s true that the media portray many narrowly circumscribed images that children aspire to (often inappropriately), it doesn’t help if all the magazine does is reinforce the messages they receive in the home.

Parents must take responsibility for raising their children. If you allow your children to rule the home then don’t be surprised when they don’t respect your authority. If you’ve permitted your children to control you rather than the other way around then they won’t permit you to control them without a fight.

Every child is unique and they need to understand who they are and why they were born. They need to be taught that self worth isn’t dependant on size, weight, or how well they perform academically. They need to understand that they are loved and accepted regardless of their appearance. Children should understand that even if they suffer weight related health issues they are still beautiful, worthwhile people. They need to feel accepted and understand that losing weight is important for their health but has nothing to do with their self worth.

Children hate the words overweight and obese because they don’t understand what the words means but receive the impression from society, peers and sometimes parents that it is ugly and means they are a failure. Name calling will only cause your children to lose self esteem. Teach them positive lessons so they can lose weight without losing self esteem. Encourage them in what they do, they might be good in an area then praise them. But don’t reward them with food. Children are crying out to be loved and many eat to fill that empty void, they want to be loved and accepted and have a good image about themselves.

Building child self esteem doesn’t have to be difficult. Try not to make negative comments about them. That can be easier said than done when they try your patience and you become frustrated and angry. If a child receives a positive message at home it can go a long way towards helping them deal with the negative messages they receive elsewhere.

It is important to evaluate your own self esteem to see what lessons you have taught your children, are they positive or negative? Remember both positive and negative lessons are learned and if they have low self esteem maybe it is because you have low self esteem.

This post does not constitute medical advice nor should it be substituted for professional medical advice. This post titled “Building child self esteem” is intended for informational purposes only.

Are you concerned about childhood obesity and depression. If you are worried that your child might be suffering from depression due to being overweight it may be a medical issue which needs to be addressed. You should always seek professional medical advice if you are concerned about this. Even if you are concerned that your child is suffering from depression for reasons unrelated to being overweight it is important to seek medical advice.

Unfortunately, childhood obesity and depression go hand in hand. We all know how cruel children can be, even children who are not overweight will be told they are fat and labelled as a ‘fatty’. This is especially true of children who prove themselves sensitive to this type of teasing. It is unfortunate but true that children LIKE pushing one anothers buttons. Even those who hate being teased will tease others because they just don’t grasp the concept of treating other people the way they would like to be treated. If course, if a child is overweight then the taunts they receive increase in frequency and can eventually destroy their self confidence and potentially cause depression.

A depressed child will exhibit many symptoms, including but not limited to; not wanting to play outdoors, binge eating unhealthy foods, not wanting to eat, bursting into tears at the slightest provocation and being overly self conscious. In extreme cases they may even give up the will to live. Older children and teens may even attempt suicide to escape a life they view as unbearable. Even death is a more pleasant prospect than life.

Don’t make the mistake of thinking this kind of issue only affects adults. Yes, it is probably more common in adults but children suffer too. Just look at the suicide rate among teenagers. Sure, the issues and stresses they face may seem so much less important than ours, but they are just as important to THEM! I’m sure you remember situations as a child that mortified you and made you feel really bad. Maybe your supposed best friend tattled a really embarassing secret around the school. Or maybe your love interest boasted to their friends about having sex with you. These situations are majorly upsetting to young people. For an overweight child, the constant attacks on their self esteem can become overwhelming.

So if you are concerned that your child may be depressed they should be seen by a physician or school counsellor who will examine the reasons for their depression. Hopefully they won’t need medication but some children do. Once you’ve dealt with the emotional aspect of the depression you need to address the root cause of the depression. If you don’t address the cause it is like putting a band-aid on a deep cut that requires stitches and expecting it to heal. The same is true for children who are suffering childhood obesity and depression.

Medication is like a band-aid, it addresses the superficial symptoms but until the eating and exercise habits are changed and the weight is lost nothing will change.

If your child is overweight or obese then you have the power to change what they eat. Yes they may be binge eating or a secret eater but you can still make some changes to see the problem changed. Have you ever see the television program ‘You are what you eat’? English nutritionist Gillian McKeith addresses the unhealthy eating habits of obese individuals and families. One of the things Gillian does is to go through the pantry and remove all the unhealthy foods and replace them with healthy foods. This is something you may need to do, remove the processed foods, cakes, cookies, crisps, sweets, chocolates etc until your child has learned to eat and appreciate healthy foods. Doing this will also stop them taking those things secretly, they can’t do that if there is none in the house!

Another benefit of removing junk foods from your childs diet is that it frequently causes a significant improvement in behavior. Here in Australia, there was a primary school in Queensland that banned all sugary and processed foods from the canteen and childrens lunch boxes during school hours. Within one week, almost all behavioral issues in students were resolved, fights, bullying, temper tantrums etc came to a virtual standstill. The children behaved better and focussed better in the classroom and over time the academic results of the school improved. The results of this experiment caused many parents to ban these products in the home also. I know that when my daughter consumes red food coloring she becomes unmanageable, defiant, bad tempered and even aggressive. The reason for these behavioral changes is the artificial additives found in processed foods.

It is also important that you spend time with your child discussing their feelings. They need to know that they can talk to you when they feel negative about a situation and that you will respond constructively to the issue.

Overweight or obese children are more likely to be bullied in the school environment so you may need to discuss the issue with the school principle and your child’s class teacher. If they know about the issue, and know specific children that are being cruel, they can watch for it. Some teachers are more helpful than others. But remember, if the teasing is caused by them being overweight then you need to consult your doctor for help with how to change the eating and exercise habits of your child in order for them to lose weight.

Something else that can help with childhood obesity and depression is to get your child involved in exercise. It may be impossible to motivate them to exercise on their own but if you get involved, go for a walk with them, play wii sports with them, put on a cd and dance with them etc. Anything that will get them up and moving.

Exercise doesn’t only improve fitness and tone muscles, it also releases ENDORPHINS. Endorphins are hormones produced by the brain that reduce pain and improve mood. In effect they are the bodys natural aspirin and anti depressant. Have you ever wondered why when you feel better after you exercise? This is the reason. This fact alone should encourage you to encourage your family to be active.

It is possible to help your depressed children. Here is a summary of the things you can do.

• Seek professional medical advice
• Talk to your child and find out what is making them depressed.
• Help them change their eating habits to lose weight and reduce peer teasing
• Encourage them to exercise as this will stimulate endorphin production and help them lose weight

With your help your child can overcome childhood obesity and depression!

Are you concerned about negative body image and eating disorders in teenagers? Do you suspect that your teen has stopped eating because they perceive themselves as overweight? Do they talk about diets or teenage diet plans or other ways to lose weight? Are you finding food hidden in their closet? Be aware! All of these things can be a sign that there is an issue with body image and eating disorders. It may not be a passing phase. Your teen could potentially be heading for some serious health issues. This post was created to help you understand how you can help them.

Check out this post about How to help your child develop a healthy body image.

If your teen does need to lose weight you should keep in mind that many teenage diet plans are potentially dangerous to their health. Especially if they are the ones controlling it without understanding necessary nutritional requirements. Due to this danger you should encourage your teen to consult the family doctor before going on a diet. Most doctors will resist putting teenagers on a diet plan since it is frequently unnecessary. Quite often, the teen is not overweight at all, but they are taking the comments of peers and the unrealistic role models presented by the media of celebrities to heart. If your teen does require a diet plan it’s important to do it properly with medical advice.

Teens are deeply influenced by peer pressure, and it can have an extremely negative effect on their body image of themself. Many perfectly healthy teens obsess about weight issues that don’t exist. This can lead to them taking radical measures to change themselves… including starving themselves.

The best teenage diet plan will incorporate both exercise and all the nutrients required to build strong bones and maintain good physical health. If your teen requires a diet plan, talk to a medical professional, either a doctor, dietician or nutritionist. These people can help you and your teenager create a healthy teenage diet plan.

Teenagers commonly do carry a little extra weight. Most of them lose it as they mature. It is important that your teen understand both this, and the fact that everyone is different and should not be the same. There are many body shapes and types and your teen needs to be familiar with this.

If their best friend weighs 105 lbs doesn’t mean they should be that weight, it may not even be healthy or attractive for them to be that weight. There are several factors that contribute toward a healthy weight range including; height, bone size, body shape and family history.

For those who are concerned about body image and eating disorders, a good teenage diet plan will include very few junk foods or none at all. While these foods include some beneficial nutrients, they also have loads of empty calories and fat. Overindulging in junk food at any age increases the risk of weight related diseases like heart disease and diabetes. Conversely, their diet should also include plenty of fruit and vegetables. These are low in fat and provide plenty of nutrients for healthy, growing bodies. Encourage your teenager to pack healthy snacks like fruit, nuts and vegetables for school etc. Having healthy snacks on hand reduces the temptation to purchase junk food when they get hungry.

Another essential element of a good teenage diet plan is exercise. Frequently, exercise is all that’s needed. When your teenager exercises regularly they build lean muscle and lean muscle burns more calories than other types of tissue.

A healthy teenage diet plan contains lean meats. Keep them away from large portions of red meat because it is high in fat and is harder to digest. Encourage them to eat more skinless chicken and fish as these are lower in fat and will help them lose weight.

If you teen does need to lose weight then encourage them to drink low fat milk as it contains less fat than whole milk and still provides the necessary calcium to build strong bones. They should also replace soda drinks with water, the same if they drink a lot of fruit juice as these are high in sugar and can contribute to weight gain. If they don’t like drinking water explain that it helps flush toxins out of the body and will therefore help clear their skin and reduce the severity of acne. This alone is enough to change the attitude of most teenagers to drinking water.

Once again, never place your teenager on a diet yourself and watch for signs that they are trying to lose weight themselves. See your doctor if you are concerned about your teenagers body image and eating disorders.

Being overweight is difficult. Especially for a child.

Other kids tease them, tell them they’re fat, and simply don’t understand.

Most people just assume an overweight kid is a glutton, that’s not always the case.

There are many causes of obesity in kids, with just a few being mental health issues which in turn may stop kids from exercising or playing with their friends, kidney issues can cause excess weight, and some medications can plow on the weight as well. And these are just a few.

Rather than judging, we need to be more mindful of the problem, and find creative ways to help alleviate it.

One way to do this is to exercise as a family. Here are a few ideas:

Cycling: plan a bicycle trip where the whole family goes along. It doesn’t have to be anywhere too far away, and in fact, it’s better to start off with a very short trip. Start off with (say) a ten minute trip, and gradually build on that. After one or two ten minute trips, build it up to fifteen, then twenty minutes and so on.

It’s better to build up over time rather than start off with a long trip where everyone is exhausted and has aching muscles. By building up gradually, there’s less likelihood of this happening.

Perhaps you can find a nice park as your destination when the trip is a little longer. Pack a picnic lunch and carry it in backpacks. That way not only is the trip healthy, it’s also a cheap outing for the entire family.

Walking: this is a great activity, especially if the overweight person is also unwell (which is often the case), or some of the walkers are ‘more mature’. Walking has much less impact on the body than running or jogging, but is very effective.

Like cycling, it’s a good idea to start off with short walks, and build on the distance. It’s much better to take a short walk around the block, than to try for a longer distance on the first effort. When you are confident enough to go further, give it a shot.

Keep in mind failure to complete is a big problem for many overweight children. If they are unable to ‘make the cut’ they’re less likely to try again.

Playing Ball: believe it or not, the simple act of throwing a ball around can have an impact on the fitness of an overweight child. Although relatively low-key, it’s still exercise and will help lift the child’s fitness levels.

Fit Ball: although at first glance it may not seem possible, these unassuming balls can do a lot to help tone and also lift fitness levels. They are a great choice for anyone who is very overweight, because they make the exercise less stressful on the body. Fit Balls are relatively cheap – starting at $20 – but depending on the quality can be much more expensive. They generally come with their own set of exercise sheets.

Each of these exercises will have a low impact on your child’s body, but will contribute to their fitness level.

They are all fun activities, and in many cases, your child won’t even realize they are exercising. Keeping it fun is the key to guiding your child to a more active (and therefore fitter) life.

One of the most common causes of obesity and being overweight in children is what food experts refer to as binge eating disorder or BED. This disorder is very risky for growing children since it can cause other health problems as they arrive in their adolescent years. Obesity can potentially cause major heart problems as well as high blood pressure and cancer. You definitely don’t want to expose your kids to these health issues. Therefore, it is very necessary for parents with overweight or obese children to seek medical advice and look for a treatment for binge eating disorder as soon as possible.

Aside from health issues, binge eating disorder also causes emotional problems such as the development of low self-esteem, withdrawal from society and embarrassment to interact with the public because of the disorder. Finding a treatment for binge eating disorder is crucial when it comes to saving your growing kids from the harmful effects of the eating disorder.

There have been debates about the most effective way of treating the binge eating disorder. Some of the options for treatment for binge eating disorder include dealing with the weight loss issue or making necessary changes to the child’s behavior through intensive counseling. Due to health complications caused by obesity many experts prefer patients lose weight as soon as possible. However, because of the emotional factor involved in binge eating this can be a very difficult task. Therefore, most experts tend to use psychosocial treatment for binge eating disorder with the use of counseling and therapy procedures.

Some of the notable therapies that are suitable for children with binge eating disorder include cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy and interpersonal psychotherapy (counseling). Cognitive behavioral therapy promotes a return to healthy eating habits for your child. This also includes the necessary adjustments to self-image, body shape and weight that cause the disorder. On the other hand, dialectical behavior therapy allows your child to participate in group counseling and voice their thoughts and concerns through an open forum. Lastly, interpersonal psychotherapy effectively corrects the relationships that induce the worsening of the eating disorder.

All of these therapies are effective in alleviating the effects of binge eating disorder. However, since binge eating disorder has many potential risks to child’s health and interaction with the society, it is highly recommended to seek the help of professionals to address the emotional issues involved in acquiring the disorder.

Sadly, it is now very common to see overweight and obese children and young adults. This is very alarming since obesity causes serious health issues. Overweight children are a clear indication of how a fast paced lifestyle has caused decreasing attention to proper nutrition and practicing healthy lifestyles. Therefore, it is necessary to be well informed on how to convince kids to stay away from unhealthy eating habits and start thinking about maintaining their health. Parents and guardians should consider teaching kids weight loss and exercise techniques as early as possible to avoid obesity related problems later.

Determining the best remedy for overweight and obese children requires an understanding of the factors causing it, as well as the necessary procedures on how they can start losing excess weight. Knowing how to motivate children to participate in kids weight loss activities will make these healthy practices more enjoyable. Helping them understand that these practices will improve their health will help reduce their stubbornness about losing weight. Although you may need to exert added effort to convince them, this can be worthwhile once you see the changes in the physique and eating habits of your children.

You may want to try these effective tips on how to teach your teenagers to have a healthy lifestyle and participate in kids weight loss activities hassle-free.

Firstly, you need to set an example for your children. Being a role model for the healthy lifestyle would make your kids realize how easy it is to practice these kids weight loss programs. Most children will find exercise to be enjoyable if you made it a family routine (e.g. A Sunday bike ride). This also applies to implementing healthy eating habits. If they see that you are eager to follow a healthy lifestyle in your home, it should not be difficult for you to convince them to follow you. By doing this, you become a living example of the good effects of eating healthy and exercising regularly.

Moreover, as parents we are in a unique position to develop their awareness of the proper foods they should eat. Taking them grocery shopping is an excellent way to show them which foods are healthy and which are not. Giving them challenges about losing weight can also motivate them to achieve their goals. Instead of setting rules, give them rewards for following the healthy routines you have taught them.

Many people have bad experiences in their childhood including with eating habits. Some parents allow their children to eat anything they like simply because it’s easier than trying to encourage healthy eating habits. Often, parents are so busy that a fast meal of pizza or fish fingers and oven baked fries is easier than preparing a traditional meal of meat and three vegetables. Consequently, many children will experience the side effects of these unhealthy practices with the occurrence of health problems long into their adult years.

As parents, we are responsible to feed our kids and protect them from developing eating disorders as much as we possibly can. Healthy eating habits should be established during childhood to help them adapt easily to strict health diets.Unfortunately, children and teenagers are more likely than adults to develop eating disorders such as bulimia, anorexia nervosa, compulsive eating disorder and binge eating disorder. The reason for this is because children have neither the maturity nor the knowledge to understand what is and isn’t a healthy body image. Combine these factors with the fact that children and teenagers are overly sensitive to the opinions of their peers and you have a volatile mix of negative issues that can really mess with your child’s head. This is why it is crucial for us as parents to develop healthy eating habits and a healthy, realistic body image in our children.

Many health problems in young children are related to their eating habits. However, even if you provide them the proper food groups in their meals, they can still develop eating disorders if the issue of body image is not addressed. Children frequently have no interest in eating fruits and vegetables. In these days of fast foods and even faster lifestyles, it is only natural that children would show a preference for junk foods that are high in fats and sugars. Therefore, the responsibility to convince and motivate them to practice a healthy lifestyle depends on how you implement the dietary foods they need. You may want to follow these tips about how to help your child maintain a healthy body on their own.

Firstly, teaching your children when to eat is very important in controlling their diet. Most eating disorders in children are the results of miscommunication between the child and the parent about the right amount and type of meal to be served. Be considerate in providing food that your children love to eat but keep in control about the type and amount they are allowed to eat. By doing this, you can balance their diet without forcing them to follow a low fat diet. You should also discuss with them the side effects of not practicing healthy eating habits (including obesity). Allowing them to control their eating habits on their own can be a good start in helping them adapt a healthy lifestyle.

Moreover, do not use rewards and punishments in motivating them to eat healthy foods. Instead educate them about the health benefits of the food they eat and be constructive on how to approach them. Instead of forcing them to eat well, you can say that they can feel much better if they eat the right foods. Most eating disorders in children are significantly affected by their emotions. Therefore, you should always use a positive approach on fulfilling your children’s needs especially about choosing what they should eat and what they should not.

Compulsive overeating can be very difficult to address, especially when a child has difficulty in coping with changes in the daily eating habit. This can be a major problem for children since they are more active and are therefore more prone to becoming hungry compared to adults. Although you can find a compulsive eating disorder treatment nowadays, it is still best to prevent the main causes of this behavior before such treatment becomes necessary.

Finding a compulsive eating disorder treatment may require you to analyze the major causes of this condition. According to experts in behavior of children, most children experiencing this eating disorder have an emotional dependency on the food they like to eat. Emotional eating is a potential threat to your child’s health since it can make it impossible to follow a healthy diet and cause obesity. Although this can be a very serious health problem, this can still be treated by compulsive eating disorder treatment. It is very important to make the necessary steps to correct your child’s eating habits as soon as possible to prevent further problems that may arise when they reach their teenage years. Aside from health problems, the discrimination of society toward obese people is a serious emotional concern for your child if not addressed. Forcing kids to undergo compulsive eating disorder treatment by identifying the main source of the problem may not be easy when the case is crucial to the health of the child. However, you can implement other activities to reduce the tendency to overeat.

You may want to consider the following tips to help alleviate compulsive eating. Firstly, having a regular five-minute walk can help your children keep away from thinking about eating all the time. This involves distracting the child from thoughts of food and can be very helpful in battling food cravings as well as the impulse of the body to reach for the food available on the refrigerator. Moreover, introducing your child to have a phone friend can also help them control their eating habits. Having someone to talk to your children can reduce their attention to food cravings during free time.

Another method is to substitute healthy foods where they would usually be eating cakes, biscuits, chips and muesli bars. This reduces both calorie and fat intake as well as providing nutritional elements that are crucial to children’s growth.

Lastly, putting smaller meals on their plate or lunch boxes can help them have a limit on their food intake. (The substitution method works well here as well). Although this may seem a little too much for your child to bear, this can be very effective in helping them reduce their calorie intake and the same time, significantly remove their tendency to eat more.

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