How to Talk to Kids About Fat: 6 Books for Kids & Parents
Fat Fridays Virtual Social Club (presented by NAAFA and hosted by me!) is a monthly gathering to foster fun and friendship among fat community. It’s a fat affinity space (that means fat folx only!), there’s always a theme (because who doesn’t love a theme?!) and we have lots of conversations that almost always lead to shared knowledge and resources. The information gathered here was a collaborative effort between folx who were present for our September 2023 event with the theme of fat liberation history.
While we shared a lot about the history of the fat liberation movement (get all those juicy deets here!), we also shared about our personal fat liberation histories. A lot of us can recall in vivid detail our first experiences with fatphobia as children, so it makes a lot of sense that this topic led to an extended conversation about how to talk to kids about fat. I found it super empowering that—even in the midst of our lifelong processing of fatphobic trauma—we ended up discussing how to break those (often familial) cycles by seeking resources to help the little humans in our lives have more loving relationships with their bodies than we did. That was fucking rad.
Anyway! These lists are concise and to the point. I’ve only read the first book, so I can’t personally vouch for the rest. But folx in the group recommended these, so I feel safe sharing them with ya’ll, too.
Books for kids
Bodies are Cool by Tyler Feder (3-5 years)
Your Body is Brilliant: Body Respect for Children by Sigrun Danielsdottir (4-7 years)
Celebrate Your Body (and Its Changes, Too!): The Ultimate Puberty Book for Girls by Sonya Renee Taylor (8+ years)
Starfish by Lisa Fipps (10-12 years)
Books for parents
Body Happy Kids by Molly Forbes
Fat Talk: Parenting in the Age of Diet Culture by Virginia Sole-Smith
The friend who suggests this book also strongly recommends the author’s email newsletters!