Two Powerful Lessons on Body Image and Self-Esteem for Primary Schools
Helping Primary Children Build a Positive Body Image
Body image and self-esteem can play a big role in our mental health and wellbeing. That’s why we’ve partnered with the fantastic Body Happy Organisation on a new set of resources to support children to feel happy and respected in their bodies.
Launching in Children’s Mental Health Week 2026, we’ve created two free primary lessons that utilize Body Happy Org’s years of knowledge and expertise combined with The Story Project’s research-led S.T.O.R.Y. framework.
The resources use two wonderful picture books that are inclusive and empowering. Made to help children feel like their bodies belong.
Lesson 1: Based on the story ‘Dogs Don’t Do Ballet’ by Anna Kemp, explore how body stereotypes can stop us from achieving our best.
Lesson 2: Based on the story ‘Bodies Are Cool’ by Tyler Feder, celebrate different body types and talk about how to be inclusive.
Why Using Stories to Talk About Body Image is so Powerful
Stories create safe and relatable spaces for children to explore big topics. They allow children to see themselves in characters, understand others’ perspectives and talk about complex emotions through metaphor and narrative.
Story-based learning makes wellbeing themes memorable, meaningful and easier to apply to real life.
Books also allow children to test out ideas, almost like a wellbeing laboratory, giving them the opportunity to delve into a topic deeply before applying it to real life.
