How Body Blocks helps early childhood educators to promote positive body image in children
Key takeaways The Embrace Impact Lab conducted a randomised controlled trial of the Body Blocks by Embrace Kids program, to understand its effectiveness among early childhood educators Educators who completed the Body Blocks program experienced significant improvements in their professional knowledge and personal appreciation of their body functionality at 1-week follow-up compared to the control […]
5 powerful ways your donation can change a child’s life
No child should grow up feeling like their body isn’t good enough. But right now, too many are. They’re absorbing harmful messages about how they look before they can even read. They’re quitting sports they love, hiding their bodies and shrinking themselves, all because no one gave the adults in their lives the tools to […]
The hidden cost of inaction: What happens when we ignore body image struggles
Meet Olivia. Like many children in Australia, Olivia grew up with a caring and supportive family and had a bright future, bursting with potential. However, like most kids, Olivia grew up being bombarded with harmful messages about bodies and appearance, from a very young age. As a preschooler, she wished she had a body exactly […]
The hidden dangers of diet culture in schools: Rethinking nutrition education in the HPE curriculum
Disclaimer: This article is written by our Embrace Kids Youth Crew member Lucy Flynn, and presents her personal lived experience and opinions. What if the way we’re taught about food, movement and bodies in schools is actually doing more harm than good? From counting calories to viewing exercise as punishment, the way we approach […]
It’s more than just #loveyourbody: Why body image is critical for mental health and how to improve it
There are a LOT of misconceptions about body image, and this complex concept is often oversimplified and misrepresented online. So what exactly is body image, and why is it important for our young people? Body image refers to the thoughts and feelings that people have about their bodies, and the behaviours they engage in […]
How to support young people’s body image throughout Ramadan
Skipping meals and fasting are usually considered to be signs of disordered eating—but what about fasting for religious reasons? During Ramadan, which runs from late February to late March in 2025, Muslims around the world abstain from eating and drinking from sunrise to sunset for 30 days. In Australia, this typically means fasting between […]
Can film be more than fun? Assessing the impact of the ‘EMBRACE KIDS’ film on children’s and adults’ body image and wellbeing
Key takeaways: • Watching EMBRACE KIDS improved children’s and adults’ body image and self-compassion• The film addresses body image concerns before they take hold• It also provides a safe, engaging approach to sensitive conversations The EMBRACE KIDS documentary set out to inspire a whole new generation of young people to Embrace their bodies. At […]
AI-generated images: How we can protect our kids from the threats of perfection
Most of us grew up in a media landscape devoid of diversity throughout the 90s and 2000s. We know what it’s like to only see one representation of ‘beauty’; one ‘ideal’. To make matters worse, the genetically gifted celebrities and models were photoshopped and retouched in magazines and for billboard ads. It took us years […]
The traffic light system is detrimental to young bodies (and minds)
Disclaimer: The following blog post is written by Rachael, a member of the Embrace Kids Youth Crew, based on her personal experiences and observations regarding the traffic light system. Please note that Rachael is not a medical professional, and the views expressed are based on her own lived experience. For professional advice, we recommend consulting with […]
Unpacking fatphobia and how to avoid passing it onto your kids
How do you feel when you hear the word ‘fat’? Uncomfortable? Shameful? Disgusted? Embarrassed? For many, those emotions aren’t just a reflex—they’re learned. But ‘fat’ is not a bad word—even though you might shy away from using it, or wince when your kid says it, ‘fat’ is just a descriptor, much like ‘thin’ or ‘short’. […]
