4 Things We Need To Stop Doing To Kids Immediately

3. Gender Stereotyping Them

Our society is rife with gender stereotypes. We’ve made progress, but as long as toy aisles and clothing racks divide us into pink and blue, it bears repeating.

For reference, here’s a list of items and activities that have nothing to do with gender: skateboards, baseball bats, ballet slippers, garden tools, dolls, kitchen supplies, remote control cars, basketballs, stuffed animals, the color pink, legos, blocks, coloring books, stickers, the color blue, glitter, paint…you get the idea!

Kids should be able to identify with what sparks their curiosity and pursue interests that make them feel fulfilled and happy, regardless of gender. Let’s let them.

Stop asking boys what sports they play and complimenting girls on their cute shoes. Young people are not one-dimensional. They know this. It’s time we did, too.

Kids should be able to identify with what sparks their curiosity and pursue interests that make them feel fulfilled and happy, regardless of gender. Let’s let them.

Oh, and bonus points to those who stop saying “boys and girls” to address groups, teams, or classes.

4. Body-Shaming Others (And Ourselves!) In Front Of Them

I make a concerted effort around my kids not to lead with comments about looks or bodies when discussing myself or other people.

I don’t want them to think the most important thing about a person is appearance. Also, beauty is subjective. While it will inevitably factor into decisions for them someday, about partners and love interests; looks don’t need to be the first thing they assign value to in others.

If we want young people to accept and respect their own bodies, it starts with us.

Consider this before commenting on the bodies of others, or yourself, around kids (who are still finding their worth in a society saturated with filters, Instagram, and Photoshop).

If we want young people to accept and respect their own bodies, it starts with us. What if instead of focusing on perceived flaws, we highlighted the positives of our anatomy?

Our bodies hike us up mountains, carry us across monkey bars and soccer fields, propel us from diving boards into pools. They hold others when they are tired, sick, or sad. They find cures, feed babies, repair limbs, build shelters, write music, and create whole new worlds in book pages and on movie screens.

They are actually, pretty amazing.

Let’s model for younger generations that what our bodies do is more important than what they wear, weigh, or how they look.

We want our kids to be empowered, happy, and confident. How can we expect them to achieve any of that without providing an environment that fosters those values?

I’ll try if you will. Let’s start now.

Originally published HERE.

Hi, I’m Jacque. Mother. Wife. Teacher. Writer. Caffeine & Music Enthusiast. Reader of Everything. Believer in Truth, Kindness, and Humor. Server of Sarcasm and After-School Snacks. Just hoping to pick up my kids on time and find my Zen. For more of my musings, find me at writewhereiam.