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General Information
on Supporting
Big Kids of All Ages
Dear Friend:
Please take a moment to read through this
page as well as other areas of our Kids Project to find out what Radiance is doing to address size and
acceptance issues for our youth. We're always glad for your
participation with us, for the sharing of ideas and expertise. Contact
us today!
— Alice Ansfield,
Publisher, Editor, Founder
info@radiancemagazine.com
OUR MAGAZINE AND WEB SITE
Once or twice a year in the magazine, we
print essays from children, teens, and young adults, about their bodies
and their lives. We want to hear their stories, in their voices. You’ll
find our Call for Essays on the main page of our Kids Project. Please
help us get this message out to the kids in your life. Their voices need
to be heard. (We only print highlights from each issue at our web site.
For a complete version, subscribe to the print version of Radiance.)
In addition to printing essays from our
youth, Radiance also
prints helpful articles from parents, teachers, counselors, and health
professionals on raising children to feel seen, loved, and valued,
whatever their body size or shape. This information is a must-read.
Radiance continues
to network and do outreach with therapists, educators, and others doing
similar work for kids around body image and self-esteem. We’ll share
this information with you in the magazine and at the web site. If you
know of some individuals, groups, or resources that you feel we ought to
connect with, please contact us. Your support, ideas, expertise, and
care, are needed.
7 “TO DO’s” FOR SCHOOLS & YOUTH PROGRAMS
We’re happy to work with you on
curriculum suggestions for kids and body image, diversity, and on
creating size-friendly classrooms. Evaluate your usual procedures to
determine if they are sensitive to plus-size kids. For example,
(1) weigh and measure children in a
private setting, treating this as confidential information.
(2) Have gym apparel and swimwear that
fits the large child and looks okay on him or her.
(3) Base student’s physical education
grade on effort and improvement, not on innate athletic ability.
(4) Do not allow harassment based on
body size or shape.
(5) Ask large teachers if they are
comfortable acting as role models and mentors to large students.
(6) Subscribe
to Radiance and
other size-positive reading materials (books, magazines) for your
school library.
(7) Finally, celebrate International
No-Diet Day (May 6) each year in your classroom. (Contact us for
materials.)
COPIES OF RADIANCE
I’m always happy to send sample copies
of Radiance to school
personnel, therapists, health professionals, and so on. Bring our
magazine and materials with you to share with members of groups,
classes, workshops, or festivals. Contact us.
SUGGESTED READING / RESOURCE LIST
Please include Radiance:
The Magazine for Large Women, on any suggested reading
list around issues of body size, body image, self-esteem, or diversity
that you print or distribute. We offer ongoing support and information
on these topics in every issue of our magazine.
If you’d like a suggested reading list
(size-positive, of course), contact us. We can mail or e-mail you one,
or view it at our web site.
PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS & THE MEDIA
Size-acceptance information and body
diversity appreciation is vital to the health and well-being of all
children, and should be considered when creating any services and
programs. For those in TV or if you create printed materials for
kids/families: Include kids of all sizes in your photo sessions and in
all resource materials as matter of fact. Show that kids of all sizes
are seen, loved, and valued.
Please be in touch with us with ideas or
information, concerns or questions, on this important topic. If you get
interviewed by the media on these issues, please mention Radiance as a source of support and
information on self-esteem, body image, and size acceptance. It's always
possible to ask them to do a 'sidebar' with an article on helpful
resources.
If you want to write for Radiance on this issue, or know of
someone or a group doing work along these lines, please e-mail us and
let us know.
Sincerely,
Alice Ansfield
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