There is a new children’s book out called Maggie Goes On A Diet by Paul Kramer. I am so upset because this book sends such a wrong message to young children and especially young girls.
While one of the messages is that kids should eat healthy foods and exercise, the stronger message is that overweight kids do not have as much value as thinner kids.
The beginning of the book begins with a young Maggie who is teased because of her weight and seeks comfort for her sadness with food. She is bullied and made to feel insecure. Maggie then tries to lose weight to be accepted and when she succeeds, the bullying stops.
The message is clear that being overweight is a negative and must be eradicated if a child is to be accepted. The book is targeted at young readers from the ages of about four to twelve.
When children have their imperfections pointed out and focused on, they are not empowered to take pride in who they are. To make matters even worse, young girls who have body dissatisfaction are more likely to develop eating disorders.
Our children need to be nurtured and respected for the youngsters that they are. We shouldn’t make them feel inferior if they are less than “perfect” when it comes to physical issues, intelligence or talents. If we do, we will create the danger that they will see themselves as having less value than others. That will destroy self esteem and make them more vulnerable to bullies.
Photo: Amazon
