Wellbeing - Body Bright

Butterfly Body Bright is taught in our Wellbeing lessons and is embedded in our whole school approach to Wellbeing. Butterfly Body Bright is a body image program designed for Australian Primary Schools. It promotes positive attitudes and behaviours towards the body, eating and physical activity. This strength based and evidence informed program has been developed by the Butterfly Foundation and aims to support our staff, students and families. 

Throughout the year, each year level explores the six key themes of Butterfly Body Bright. Each theme targets an important factor that contributes to the development of children’s body image. The third theme is inclusive of all bodies. This theme helps children understand and celebrate how bodies look and function differently, with the overall aim of ensuring everyone feels like they belong in our school community and the world.

Research from the Butterfly Body Bright program found that attitudes and beliefs about body shape, weight and appearance develop early. When these beliefs are negative or stereotypical, they can reinforce weight stigma and lead to body dissatisfaction.

Inclusive lessons in the younger years encourage students to recognise and celebrate differences in bodies and appearance. In the upper years, the focus is on encouraging students to recognise and celebrate differences, and value inner qualities.

What you can do at home:

• Encourage your child to see all bodies as valuable and deserving of respect. 
• Remind your child that bodies grow and change and that this is natural and necessary
• Reinforce the idea that healthy and happy bodies come in all different shapes and sizes.

For more information on how to help your child be inclusive of all bodies check out the inclusive tip sheet at www.butterflybodybright.org.au/resources. 

To learn more about the Butterfly Body Bright program visit www.butterflybodybright.org.au or contact Eliza Solly or Leanne Williams.