Nurturing Body Literacy: Transforming Education in the Virtual Reality Era to Shape Children’s Identities and Redefine Educator Roles

Abstract

The virtual reality era has ushered in significant changes in the identity formation process of children and young individuals. This exploratory research intervention investigates the correlation between social media use and its potential influence on body image development in 9- to 10-year-old children. This study employs a qualitative research-intervention design comprising three phases: focus group discussions, the implementation of an educational intervention, and post-intervention assessments. The research was conducted with 50 children attending a primary school in Cassino, Italy. The findings underscore the importance of nurturing a positive body image from early childhood. This entails emphasising the development of various vital elements within the construct of body literacy, including body awareness, body interception, body perception, and body comprehension. Educators play a critical role in empowering children to foster a healthy body image by adopting an educational approach rooted in the principles of body literacy. The school environment emerges as an ideal setting for promoting body literacy, thus contributing to children’s holistic development and well-being in an age dominated by virtual reality and social media influences.