According to a latest study, young children, engaged in theatre productions, are likely to promote a healthier body image.Led by Professor Viren Swami of Anglia Ruskin University (ARU), the new study, published in Body Image, evaluated the responses of children aged 5-9 before and after attending productions of 'Cinderella: the AWESOME Truth' at a theatre in London.Previous research suggests that children begin to understand societal standards of appearance by the age of five, and body dissatisfaction begins to develop in both girls and boys from the age of six onwards.
Professor Swami, a body image expert, was consulted during the development of 'Cinderella: the AWESOME Truth', with the aim of producing a show that could help children develop positive body image and self-image.
A contemporary new version of the traditional story was developed via workshops with over 200 children. The show includes topics such as body shaming and its effects, managing appearance expectations and anxieties, the impact of social media on body image, and the value of friendships in promoting healthier body attitudes and improved self-esteem. Children learn that what makes them "awesome" is what they and their bodies can do, not what they look like.