Messages About Me: Sydney’s Story: A Girl’s Journey to Healthy Body Image by Educate & Empower Kids

Hey there! I’m Cath Hak from Sex Ed Rescue, and I want to chat with you about this awesome ebook I found called Messages About Me: Sydney’s Story. Now, I apologize in advance because you won’t be able to see the book very well since it’s an ebook. But hey, that’s okay because I snagged it on a special deal and didn’t have to worry about expensive shipping from America to Australia. Score!

So, Messages About Me is written by Dina Alexander, Kyle Roberts, Jenny Webb, and one more author (whose name I have to click to find out, oops!). It’s published by a company called Educate Empower Kids, who specialize in creating books and resources for parents about sex education. This particular book is all about a girl named Sydney and her journey to having a healthy body image.

Now, let me read you a little blurb from the Amazon page because it’s a bit tricky to access the information on my Kindle. Here it goes: We live in a great big world where we receive and send messages every day. Some of these messages are about our bodies, and they can really mess with the way we see ourselves. Join Sydney as she navigates through these messages with the support of her friends and family. You’ll learn how to change the way you see these messages, your body, and how you can help others. Plus, there are conversational sections and workbook questions and activities at the back of the book!

The recommended age range for this book is six to eleven. So, as soon as you notice your child becoming more aware of fitting in or following what others are doing, like the whole boys only like blue or girls should wear certain clothes kind of stuff, that’s a good time to grab this book. Honestly, I haven’t come across many other books on this topic for younger kids, which is why I was so excited to get my hands on this one. It’s a modern-day topic that we really need to talk to our kids about. We want them to understand that they don’t have to just go along with what everyone else is doing, you know?

Now, let’s talk about how the book is structured. It starts with an introduction that encourages parents to read it themselves and then have a couple of reads with their child. You know, like the first time you read a book, you just read it, and then the second time you can discuss it together. Of course, as kids get older, around 11 or 12, they might not be as interested in sitting down and reading a book with you. But it all depends on your relationship with your child, how mature they are, and if they’re open to reading a book like this. Oh, and by the way, there’s a boys’ version of the book too, with a similar story but a little different.

Okay, let’s dive into Sydney’s story. She’s a girl who loves running and watching TV. But she starts to wonder why she doesn’t have shiny, perfect hair like the people she sees on TV. So she changes her hair, spends forever doing it, and even starts posting pictures of herself on social media. Then she decides she needs big red lips too. It’s a whole whirlwind of trying to fit in, you know?

But here’s the thing, she realizes that all these changes make it harder for her to do the things she loves, like running. And she’s not happy about that. So she gives up training and tries to be skinny instead. But guess what? That doesn’t make her happy either because she can’t run as fast. It’s a tough lesson for Sydney, but an important one.

Luckily, she talks to her mom about all these messages she’s been receiving, and her mom helps her understand that she needs to figure out what messages to follow and what makes her truly happy. That’s when Sydney meets a girl who doesn’t try to change herself at all, and she realizes that beauty comes from within. She starts hanging out with this new friend, gets back into running, and finds true happiness. It’s a journey of self-discovery and learning to ignore the pressures to conform.

So, in my opinion, this book is a fantastic resource for starting conversations with your child. Sometimes, as parents, it can be tough to know where to begin or how to approach certain topics. But with a book like this, you can say, Hey, I found this really cool book. Want to read it together? You can even make up a reason for why you got it, like hearing about it on the radio or reading about it in a magazine. Then, you can read it together or have your child read it on their own and discuss it afterward. It’s a great opportunity for teachable moments too. For example, if you see a shampoo ad on TV that talks about having shiny, beautiful hair, you can bring up the book and ask your child what they think about those kinds of messages. It’s all about sparking those important conversations about self-image, societal pressures, and staying true to yourself.

Alright, I hope that breakdown helps you understand what this book is all about. It’s a valuable tool for tackling topics like body image, societal messages, and the pressure to change ourselves. So go ahead and grab a copy, and let the conversations begin!