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Education Hub

Appreciate your body

9 to 12 years old

Do you want to know what makes our bodies so incredible? That we are all different in the ways we smell, hear, see, feel and move – and in the way we look! It’s important to appreciate our bodies for all their differences, because that’s what makes us unique and special.

When we appreciate our bodies, we are more likely to have better mental and physical health. We are more likely to care for our bodies by treating them with respect and giving them what they need. This means we can do the things we love and get the most out of every single day.

It can be hard to appreciate our own body if we are constantly comparing it to others. Sometimes our brains do this without us even realising it, but we are in charge of how we feel when this happens.

When we notice ourselves comparing how we look to someone else, we can acknowledge that feeling but we don’t want to be too hard on ourselves or try to change who we are to be more like that person. We can celebrate what someone else can do while still being pretty proud of what we can do as well!

If we make time to appreciate our bodies each and every day, we can build a force field to push back against anything that might make us feel bad about our bodies.

Appreciating our body is an important lifelong skill, even when we are tired, sick or not feeling great. Researchers have discovered that when we appreciate our body, we are more likely to eat a wide variety of foods and do physical activity we enjoy. It even makes us more likely to ask for help when we need it – and that’s a great thing!

When we appreciate our bodies, we also don’t spend as much time worrying about the way we look, which can affect our mental health. Embracing your body is good for you in so many ways. Try thinking about what you appreciate about your body, like the way it helps you see, hear, smell, taste and touch. It enables you to move, be creative and interact with others. Think about all the things it’s doing right now without you noticing, like digesting your lunch or breathing in fresh air. It can even heal itself when you are sick or injured. Your body is pretty incredible, isn’t it?!

You can start to be kinder to yourself in a few ways.

  • star-list
    Focus on what your body can do.
Write down all the incredible things your body did for you today.
  • star-list
    Try not to compare your body to someone else.
Your body is your home for your entire life and it can do so many amazing things. Everyone has their own unique strengths.
  • star-list
    Know that there is no such thing as a perfect body.
Our differences are what make us special.
  • star-list
    Avoid saying negative things about yourself and your body.
It only brings you and others down.
  • star-list
    Trust your body.

It knows what it needs to do, you just have to listen to it!

Interactive Downloads

Download these free resources to help you Embrace your body!

#IHaveEmbraced Pledge Desktop Wallpaper

All Bodies
Are Amazing
Printable Art

Focus On
Functionality
Worksheet

Judge Less
Love More
Printable Art

Self Compassion Journaling Prompts Worksheet

Sparkle From
The Inside
Printable

FLIP TO APPRECIATION

Use your mouse (or finger if you’re on mobile) to select each tile and reframe the negative thoughts.

I wish my body could draw as well as my friend can.

My body has its own strengths that are different to my friend’s strengths.

My body is different to my friends, and I wish I was the same as them.

My differences are my superpower and that means we can do so much more together!

I’m not as fast as my friend.

I take my time to do things and that means I notice more of the world around me.

I get frustrated with my body when it gets sick.

My body is doing the best it can.

When I’m tired I can’t do the things I want to do.

Listening to my body is respecting that it needs rest.

I feel bad when I don’t do well on a test.

My body is trying its hardest and will learn something new from this test.

I feel bad when I compare my body to others.

My body is unique and deserves respect and appreciation.

Sometimes it feels like my body isn’t good enough.

I recognise that my body works hard to keep my heart beating, my lungs breathing and my muscles moving.

My commitment to myself

I will accept and appreciate my body.
I will fuel and move my body because it feels good!
I know that I have special magic – unique only to me.
What I look like is not as important as what I do and who I am being in this world.
I will Embrace my body and encourage other people to do the same.

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