Body Image Issue....at age four.

I would take that as a sign that you need to either try and fix your body issues, or at least hide them from your sister. She also might not understand what the number means, and knows from learning numbers than 10, for example, is more than 8, and doesn't get what the numbers really mean.

Yeah, kids pick up a lot things. I don't think that she really understands what is consider big, but I would stop mentioning weight/body measurements issues and calories around her. Talk about healthy lifestyle, being active and eating well, and look at it as positive as opposed to negative.

Good for you for being so in tune and empathetic with her.

My suggestion is that you look at the way you speak about yourself. Do you say things that you would never say to your best friend, mother, sister or daughter? If so, then you don't deserve to be the brunt of those comments either - even (especially) from yourself. Cheer yourself on in the same way you would for anyone you love.

Be gentle with yourself!

My little sister just turned four last month.

Now I admit, I am extremely critical of my body. I weigh myself at least twice a day and I have got completely disgusted with myself on days where I hit 1300 calories. It's unhealthy but.....it's been a battle ANYWAY.

So the other day I was measuring myself and my young brother asked me to measure him as well so I did. Then my little sister told me to measure her waist too.

Now, she is a healthy weight for her height and age. She has no medical issues and is very active, loves playing around. The best thing I admire about her is that she loves fruits and veggies.

Anyway, she is four so of course she has a small waist but when I told her the number she said "Oh my gosh! That is too much!"

I was shocked and for the last couple of days I have been feeling like it's my fault because she hears the way I talk about my body.

I tell her everyday how smart and beautiful she is but maybe actions speak louder than words and I should be more positive about my body so she can learn to love her body as well.

I guess this was just a vent but I am really ashamed of myself.

My daughter is 4 now but she has been this way since she could talk. And it has to be because of me. I have been trying to lose weight since I had her. My sisters and I that is all we talk about, sizes, weight and etc. So it is in her she will tell me no I dont want that because I dont want to get fat (sometimes she will say like you). She is thin just until recently she has always been under weight on the growth charts. But I like you tell her the same things that she is georgeous, smart, beautiful and everything else I can think of. Even though I am big I never had a bad self image, and it would break my heart if I have given my daughter one!

I agree with everyone here who states she is just imitating you. Give her something more positive to imitate, and she will forget pretending her waist is too big. Learn to praise yourself. "I did GOOD today! I rode my bicycle for ____ minutes, and that was SO much FUN!" or "I am so proud of myself! I had an apple with a small slice of cake instead of a big slice of cake because apples are SO good for me!" Praise yourself for making healthy choices rather than talking about weight loss results.
You are OBVIOUSLY a great older sister! You're sister is blessed to have someone as caring as you to emulate!

I doubt she actually thinks the number is too much. She is probably repeating what she heard. You can still help her body image by setting a good example!

Hmm, perhaps she is simply imitating a similar reaction from another member of the family she has observed measuring themselves I mean, how would she know what's "too big"? I'm not sure if she's learned to count yet.. At that age, kids are receptive to a lot of things so I'm just guessing that is what's going on.

Like sponges..they suck everything up

I'm an elementary school teacher. Had this happened to me, I'm sure my reaction would be similar and I think you're on the right track for improving your behaviors around her and in general, to make sure you aren't having a negative effect and to feel better about yourself. But in all honesty, most 4 year olds count to about 10. I don't know what number you said or whether you use inches or centimeters, but it could easily have just been her natural reaction to what is a "large" number given the range she's familiar with. Then again, as everyone who has a child in their life or who has watched basic television, kids do notice and absorb everything.

As far as what she actually said, it sounds more to me like she's used to having a very active play life with friendly adults who have exaggerate using dramatic play phrases such as "when you grow up, you'll be as tall as a building!" and other things that make a kid laugh and say, "haha, you're being silly!" But of course, intonation is everything, so if you really think she meant this in a serious way, I'm sure you're right... but it's worth thinking about.

I don't know much about anything but here are my two cents for ya ;-)

Since even before I can remember I have been a "chunky" girl. I was never small...EVER. My mother told me I was beautiful every single day...and I believed her. So, when anybody including boys, classmates, magazines, TV, told me different....I thought they were lying. I believed I was beautiful at any and every size. I was surrounded by people like friends and family who told me I was beautiful. Even at my heaviest weight of 250 pounds, I knew I wasn't healthy but you couldn't tell me I wasn't drop dead gorgeous.

Concentrate on telling her she is beautiful at any size and focus on keeping her healthy. Then do the same for you :flowerforyou:

Young children do imitate others without understand what the behavior means. So, chances are she doesn't really have body image issues. Yet. The first step is imitation. As kids get older they understand what the behaviors mean, that's when the real issues start.

I am trying to lose weight so that I can be a healthy role model for my kids. If they are around when I weigh or measure myself I don't comment one way or the other on the numbers. I don't talk about foods I can or cannot eat (mainly because I don't restrict anything, I just keep treats to a minimum), I don't talk about being fat or being unhappy with myself or my body. My daughter already thinks she needs to have her hair done in order to be pretty, which makes me sad. I definitely don't want to introduce body image issues.