Do Children's Media Adversely Affect Body Image?

Research shows that even preschoolers are well aware that how they look influences how other feel toward them. Over half of the girls between 6 and 8 years of age feel that the ideal body is slimmer than their own, and one-third of boys express the same feeling.

Common Sense Media has a new report, Children, Teens, Media, and Body Image, (available for download here) which, not surprisingly, claims that parents, books and magazines, movies and advertisements, begin to affect children, boys as well as girls, before Kindergarten, far and above normal awareness of healthy weight and good grooming advice.

For an short rundown, check out the Infographic which highlights some of the findings of the full report here.

And best of all, Common Sense Media offers their own list of "Books That Promote a Healthy Body Image," for boys and girls both, here.