Body Positivity For Kids

Body Positivity For Kids

Picture book
Here in America achieving body positivity can be a real
challenge. Between media, advertisements, and overheard conversations
growing girls can learn early on to objectify their bodies, work on
attaining impossible standards, and self loathe if this is
impossible. I've seen girls as young as four gesture to perfectly
normal tummies and bottoms in attempts to explain why they need to go
on diets.
I believe this is partly because we are so nakedness aversive.
We're taught obsessively to cover our flesh. Many people have
nightmares about being seen minus clothes. It can be easy to think
that under the garments everyone else is more perfect--I'm the only
one so weird looking.
Kyo Maclear's The Big Bath House is a breath of fresh air. The
irresistible child narrator and her mom are visiting her Baachan (I
googled that. It's a familiar form of Grandmother.) in Japan. Soon
they are joined by aunties. Child and Baachan speak different
languages. But traditions create a beautiful bond between them.
One day child, mom, Baachan, aunts, and girl cousins go to a
bath house. There's hair and body washing followed by a plunge into
the big bath.
"You'll all dip your bodies,
your newly sprouting,
gangly bodies,
your saggy, shapely,
jiggly bodies,
your cozy, creased
ancient bodies.
Beautiful bodies."
Gracey Zhang's illustrations perfectly illuminate this
empowering message. No one scurries, eyes down, fearful of judging
gazes. The women carry themselves gracefully, owning their bodies as
beloved self vessels, not inadequate presentations. The children run
and play.
I think The Big Bath House is a must acquire for school and
public libraries and homes in which little girls are learning to love
or loathe their amazing, lovely bodies.
On a purrrsonal note, I hope someday in the post pandemic future to be
able to go to a bath house. I love the skin I'm in and would be happy
to walk around in it without the American pornography mindset
interfering. When I was pregnant I'd admire my great with childness
in a mirror, running my hand over my graceful baby bump curves. The
only reason I didn't have an artist paint me nude then was fear of my
children being embarrassed by such a portrait. (Jules).
As a cat, I know my body is beautiful. I will claw anyone who tries
to dress me. (Tobago)
A great big shout out goes out to all who grasp the true beauty of the
human body.
Tobago and Jules Hathaway



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