Testing the Body Blocks Program: Helping Early Childhood Educators Support Children's Positive Body Image

Body Blocks by The Embrace Collective (https://theembracehub.com/body-blocks-by-embrace-kids/) is a universal prevention program for early childhood educators that aims to prevent body image issues in young people by getting in early with messages of body appreciation. The program aims to provide knowledge and strategies for early learning educators to support young children to develop positive relationships with food, movement and their bodies. The program targets educators working with children aged zero to eight years of age and consists of 7 x 5-minute online evidence-based and inspirational modules, which can be completed in their entirety or in a self-paced manner. The modules include practical strategies designed to be easily implemented. The program was intentionally designed be succinct, to be completed in short work breaks, allowing for reflection and integration into practice. The seven modules cover the following topics: 1. Body Talk: Avoiding negative body talk; using non-appearance-based compliments; treating movement as fun; reframing diet talk 2. Body Talk & Kids: Helping kids develop a positive body image; talking about what bodies can do and focusing on functionality; avoiding praising appearance. Activities to support educators to help kids develop positive body image focusing on unique body strengths and non-physical features. 3. Playtime: Aiming to teach children: (1) we appreciate their positive skills and qualities (and they can too); (2) what’s on the inside is more important than what is on the outside; (3) lots of people look different and can-do different things; (4) we accept them just as they are. 4. Food Talk: Importance of avoiding labelling food (as either good or bad, junk food); focusing on the joy of food and its function; ideas on how to update food-based activities (i.e., food collages, food I spy; food Bingo). 5. Mealtimes: Supporting children to build positive relationships with food and eating by: (1) getting curious during mealtimes; (2) bringing all five senses into meals; (3) encouraging kids to listen to their bodies; (4) remembering: “I provide, they decide!”; (5) speaking about all foods in a positive way. 6. Home time: How to support parents and family to build their children’s body image; Body Blocks guide for parents’ information sheet; communicating to parents the information educators’ have learnt through the program and what positive messages they are implementing. 7. Me time: How to support educators to build their own self-compassion and self-care practices and practice being kinder to themselves instead of self-critical. Participants had 1-week after randomization to complete the 7x5 minute modules. To assess adherence to the intervention, participants were asked qualitative questions such as "What were the key takeaway messages from the Body Blocks program?"