What do we teach children about the body? Premiere of an audiobook for the youngest, inspired by the story of Robert Kudelski - actor and ambassador of the campaign "Let's talk frankly about obesity"
Obesity-related disease is affecting younger and younger people. In Poland, approximately 10% of children aged 1-3 years, 30% of early school-age children and nearly 22% of adolescents up to the age of 15 years are overweight or obese.
This is a serious challenge, the scale of which continues to grow. Every year, there are around 400 000 young people in our country struggling with excessive body weight. Education and the promotion of healthy habits are - in addition to combating stigma - the most important objectives of the 'Let's Talk Honestly about Obesity' campaign.
The audiobook 'Każdy ma superMOCE', aimed at the youngest listeners (6-9 years old), disenchants negative stereotypes about the disease of obesity. Its script is a story inspired by the childhood memories of Robert Kudelski, actor and campaign ambassador. What values will the audiobook bring to the lives of the youngest?
PERSONAL EXPERIENCE THE BEST INSPIRATION
Does life write the best scenarios? It turns out that it does. The personal story of Robert Kudelski, who has been an ambassador of the 'Let's Talk Honestly about Obesity' campaign for two years now, inspired the creation of an audiobook aimed at children aged 6-9 years. His own childhood experiences of being stigmatised as a result of being heavier than other peers can help children understand the importance of respecting other peers. Why might a story based on Robert Kudelski's real-life experiences be more compelling to them?
- As a young boy I heard many times: "fat on goal!". In PE lessons, I was always picked for the team at the end, until I started to believe that, since this was the case, I was actually unfit for sport. I didn't yet know that 10 years later I would be running competitively in a sports club, in the athletics section. That, like the hero of this story, Charles, I had my superpower. At the time, as a child, all I felt was regret. Taking part in the campaign, I shared this painful memory many times in the media, and it became clear that this alienation and marginalisation due to an obesity-related illness from childhood is close to a huge group of people. And when we are children, we are vulnerable. Parents and teachers didn't know how to talk to me then, how to support me. That's why I'm delighted that an audiobook has been produced which, in such a friendly form, becomes a bridge of understanding between child and parent
- encourages Robert Kudelski, actor and ambassador of the campaign 'Let's talk frankly about obesity'.
THE OVERWEIGHT CHILD - A PSYCHOLOGIST'S VIEW
Psychologists point out that environmental role models play a significant role in the child's psychosocial development. The pre-school and early school-age child intensively develops social feelings, which find expression in peer friendships. At the same time, he or she is extremely susceptible to assimilating the stereotypes that operate in his or her immediate environment. Unfortunately, there are still too many people who equate excessive body weight with laziness, lack of willpower or even lower intelligence, which is very unfair! Children can grow up with the belief that being overweight or obese is something that indicates inferiority. So how can we counteract such stereotypes and why is the audiobook a valuable tool in the hands of a parent?
- Talking about your child's overweight or obesity can be a stressful experience for a parent - stresses Karolina Stępień-Cach, psychotherapist and campaign expert - Sometimes, although we are full of good faith, we do not know how to start it so as not to shut down or offend the child. That's why we are putting in your hands an educational tool that helps open up these difficult but necessary conversations in an accessible way. Through the eyes of the main character, Charles, we look at the fears of a child who judges his worth solely through the prism of excessive weight. For fear of rejection and judgement, he does not believe in his own strength. The story shows, step by step, how the creation of a supportive environment: by the teacher, peers and parents, gradually leads Karol to discover a sport for which he has a natural predisposition, and from which he derives true childlike joy. The story inspires physical activity, showing that sport should be accessible to everyone. It also gives children a behavioural matrix: examples of how to respond to discrimination and how to build healthy peer relationships from an early age, with concern for their own and others' emotions.
EVERYONE HAS SUPERPOWERS - FREE AUDIO STORY
To counteract the reproduction of hurtful stereotypes, the creators of the 'Let's Talk Honestly about Obesity' campaign regularly develop materials that educate and provide practical solutions for patients facing overweight, obesity and their families. To date, they have already produced: The Obesity Patient's Bill of Rights or the practical glossary "How to talk supportively about obesity disease?".
Now it is joined by an audiobook, access to which is completely free. Children and parents can listen to it here:
Everyone has super powers - free audio story
The audiobook was created in cooperation with Fajne Baje.pl. The author of the text and the reader is Honorata Kózka: an educator promoting movement among the youngest.
The Polish Childhood Obesity Society is the content patron of the audiobook.
More educational materials will soon be available on the campaign website to help people understand what obesity is, how to prevent it, and how to build the right social perception of obesity-related illness to prevent stigma and exclusion of those affected.