My boys are suckers for stereotypes. Go ahead, ask them what police officers do? Fight bad guys? Nope, they’ll answer ‘eat donuts and coffee’. Terrible right? Don’t look at me with your pointed fingers either, nothing of the sort has ever come out of my mouth or my husbands, but every time we drive past a police car the boys start chatting about this donut thing. Where on earth did they get this from?, we ask each other, but the answer is obvious – media.
So if the boys are quick to turn one of our communities biggest heroes into donut dunking slobs, what else are they picking up?
Last week I was curled up on my nine year old son’s bed having a night time chat when the subject of dating came up. He’s my least ‘girl crazy’ boy even though he’s the oldest, so this was a rare moment to encourage him to share his feelings. Unfortunately, my heart sunk when I heard some of what he had to say. “Girls like boys who are buff mom” he says, as he flexes his nonexistent muscles. I tell him, that’s not true, girls aren’t that concerned at all with how big a boy’s biceps are, what they really like are boys who are NICE”. But like that donut loving crime fighters theory, he tells me I’m wrong.
In his mind, a handsome boy is one who is ‘buff’ and that’s the type of boy girls want to date.
As a mom to three boys, this is what I know, it’s not just girls who struggle with body image, boys do too.
What is Dietainment?
Earlier this year the Multi-Grain Cheerios team launched a campaign to draw attention to the unhealthy body image messages disguised as harmless entertainment that are having a serious impact on kids across Canada. To help bring awareness and attention to this issue, we gave this harmful content a name – Dietainment.
Take a Stand
Let’s create a world without dieting for our next generation. Multi-Grain Cheerios has started a petition for Canadian media companies to end Dietainment for today’s kids.
Join me in taking a stand, alongside thousands of other Canadian parents who want to raise our children in a society free from media pressures to be something their not. Where the message they receive is that it’s okay to be you, just the way you are!
Go to worldwithoutdieting.ca to sign the petition today and have your message heard.
Disclosure: This post is in partnership with the #StopDietainment campaign from Multi-Grain Cheerios, all opinions belong to Mom vs the Boys.
Having both boys and a girl I must say you are right. The boys have been just as concerned with body image as my daughter is. I really don’t like how our world has become so obssessed with the “perfect” not really “perfect” body.
I don’t remember my brother or I caring what we looked like, but kids today sure do. We need to turn things around.
Very good point here — It’s definitely not just girls that are affected by this garbage. I suspect it also has an effect on how boys view girls, and what they picture their ideal mate as. This is the same garbage that was happening twenty years ago, the danger now is that we are increasingly presenting an ideal that is computer generated and truly unattainable.
I was thinking that too Deanna, if he has that idea of what he is supposed to look like, he must have a distored view of what girls are supposed to look like too. so unhealthy, especially as you said, those images are doctored up with computers and are not real life.
I agree with you that this is so important. When I was growing up, my mom always struggled with weight – she’d watch what she ate and even fast for days or weeks. I’ve never really had a problem with my body image (I’m kinda lucky to be naturally skinny) but I have three little girls who are growing up, like your boys, in a culture that scares me. I’ve become increasingly aware of the messages sent in the movies we watch. I think this campaign is a great cause and something we need to talk about with all our kids, both boys and girls. They need to know there’s more to a person than their size or looks and to not judge either themselves or others. 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
absolutely Bonnie! There’s so much more to us than our appearance! Both adults and kids need to realize this and practice it!
I already signed that petition and I will make sure as my girls get older they understand about this. and you are so right it is not just girls…boys struggle as well. It’s sickening how much this is throw at us
so glad you signed!
Great dialogue about a problem that is too often ignored!
I know when i was young a long time ago dieting was a big thin, trouble is when you quit the diet you gain the weight back and then some, it’s a vicious circle.
so much better to just adopt a healthy lifestyle!
Time sure have changed these past few years,so must social pressure on kids these days,I don’t remember my brothers/sisters or friends worrying about this when we were young
Totally agree! This needs to stop. Both my 10 year old girl and 10 year old nephew were making comments about the “rolls” on their bodies this summer. I told them they’re kids did. They’re supposed to be chubby.
I believe that this kind of advertising helped me develop a couple of eating disorders that have pretty much consumed my life. Thank goodness my daughters have great body images.
This generation is faced with a lot of pressure…there was never this level of social pressure when I was growing up.
There is enough pressure on ids without adding this to their lot.
Poor little guy. Everyone should be happy just the way they are. He is a sweetheart and shouldn’t be worried about girls liking him. Any girl would be lucky to have him as a boyfriend. 🙂
That is a great campaign! There is so much pressure on children’s these days!
I think this is great for role modeling for young boys. However, I think we all have a role to play as well in role modeling for all children.
I have a 13 years. Old daughter. We have had a very bad year. My hubby was off work for 2months with illness while I was battling cancer. I am a walker and I exercise. This is How my daughter green upbut now she has become a bit of a health nut. She eats all the time but things like stuffed artichokes roasted bBrussels sprouts extra. My home is the hang out home for her and her friends So I buy junk for when they are here but the only junk she will eat is popcorn and a big tray of veggies and dip. So if they learn young to treat their body good from the inside out they have won half the battle.
I worry about my granddaughter who is six as she is already concerned about her weight and looks!
I watched the videos on this – so true. So sad. something really needs to be done – sign the petition!!!!
You dont have to be SKINNY to be beautiful,we are all beautiful and special.We need to teach our kids to love themselves and be happy with their bodies and we should not be setting an example of being unhappy with ours …..kids hear more then you think beaware of your comments.
Everyone always forgets that it affects the boys too, dietainment isn’t a nice thing at all but in all honesty it’s never going to go away, the only thing we can do is to teach our children to love themselves no matter what and to ignore what society says, a lot harder done than said but we need to be strong!!
This is a good reminder to teach our children that they are beautiful and loved, exactly how they are.
I am so glad that Cheerios is trying to bring more attention to this issue. I don’t think it is every going to go away but we do need to try out best to teach our children to love who they are and that includes their body.
I’ve already signed the petition too. It’s time this stupidity stopped, it really doesn’t matter in the slightest what your body looks like, it’s who you are inside that body that matters. My girls seemingly don’t have much of a problem with this but I do know of others who suffered through anorexia and bulimia all because of the silly idea that their bodies weren’t perfect because they weren’t a size 0! It would be horrible if we were all the same size and shape, variety is what makes it interesting. I think boys are affected too but not to the same extent as girls. I also don’t like all this diet pill pushing either, another money maker in my opinion just playing on the same theme.
I used to teach. Parents have to stand up for their children. Teachers hands are tied. Kids have way too much pressure these days. They need to know how to handle it as well.
I’ve never really thought too much about this but it’s good to know, it’s something I’ll be sure to consider with both my sons and my daughter.
I love this Cheerios campaign! As a mom of a young girl, I am very aware and concerned with how women are portrayed in media. It was interesting (but sad) to hear the perspective of a young boy too.
Thanks for posting this. My 6 yr old (well 7 on Wednesday) has been taught healthy values when it comes to body image…or so I thought. This said, a few times I’ve caught her sucking in her tummy and asking if she was chubby. The reason this was even more alarming to me because she is so young to be worrying about things like that AND she’s not even 40 lbs yet.! She super petite. This is a great campaign. Bravo, Cheerios.
oh she is soooo tiny, I can’t imagine her doing that! it’s shocking isn’t it?
That is a great campaign!
Oh my, this is so pervasive. It’s everywhere. I have no idea how to stop it, or even slow it down besides telling my kids the “real” things and not being negative.
Sietainment is advertising aimed at flaws in people’s bodies to make them feel inferior because they do not measure up to some imagined idea. These ads are very damaging to young peoople
I’m worried about my grand daughter getting caught up with these type of ads. Am trying to get her to eat healthy and limit portions.
you have to change your lifestyle of eating to keep weight off
Love this post! Totally agree. I def fell victim to the stigma girls should be thin when I was younger as well. Def needs to stop. Especially now, when technology is so much more popular than it used tobe.
Great Campaign!
great post! i have a young teen and this is important!
great video. I have two boys and they were concern about their body image too
boys get over looked sometimes, they aren’t quite as expressive as girls
Girls don’t always want to listen to mom, so I am happy about this campaign
very good point Debbie, sometimes kids need to hear it from other sources
This is a great campaign! Too much time spend on physical appearance, when they should be enjoying their youth!
Yes!! totally agree!
This is a great ad nice to see the big companies promoting it 🙂
I love seeing big companies get involved!
Great article – its sad that we can’t just be who we are and there is so much pressure to look a certain way!
Great article. I wish there wasn’t so much pressure to look or be a certain way, so kids wouldn’t worry about their bodies not fitting in. I’m happy to see campaigns that encourage better body image. Thank you for the great post.
there’s too much pressure, when none of it really matters
It is a tough enough world out there without the kids having to worry about dieting. There is too much in the media about how you should look and what you should wear.
It’s the last thing kids should be worried about right?
We have to change thngs and not let the negitive things be acceptable
I signed the petition to stop Dietainment, as its harmful to our kids these unattainable images and stereotypes!
If you pay attention to whats said on TV,social media sites…sometimes it shocking for our young ears
it really is!
Also parents have to be careful, children observe that you may always be on a diet, that you may not like your body!
The focus today is too much on what we look like everywhere we turn some form of body improvement is there. You can’t turn the tv on without some new diet commercial to reach your ‘ideal’ weight. 🙁
We need to focus on teaching our children to eat healthy foods and to get plenty of exercise. They also need to learn that not everyone will look like magazine models.
exaclty this
This is a very important issue to talk about!
Signed the petition and I totally agree.
I think we all have those ugh moments, I think I tried my best instilling positive way of thinking to my girls.
This is amazing!! I struggled a lot growing up, thinking I was overweight, but I was never even close! I pray for all kids that they have the ability to realize that they are perfect the way there are!!
amen!
there needs to be more talk about this, especially with tween/teen girls. They need to talk about this in schools and parents need to talk to their kids about it.
Kids are subjected to so many unhealthy things someone needs t change this
An ABBA music video was on TV the other day. I noticed how ‘normal-looking’ the band members were compared to the pop stars of today. I do believe that we’ve been programmed to have unrealistic expectations of what people should look like. This is a good campaign.
It’s such a shame the pressure that people feel.