Every day new reports seem to surface about young starlets in Hollywood getting pregnant, arrested for driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or going into rehab. These occurrences, paired with the fact that television, music, advertisements and the Internet promote such behavior among today’s youth have many parents rushing to shield the eyes and ears of their kids. And rightfully so, according to a slew of experts.
“The media has become particularly focused on the personal lives of young celebrities,” says Genna McAlpin, a behavior specialist at Rankin County School District. “Unfortunately, when the personal events of stars come to light, they are usually negative and can steer young minds to consider possibilities they may not otherwise. Motivating children to use good judgment is especially challenging when obstacles like peer pressure and outside influences come into play.”
Kameron Ball of Madison, mom to Conner Beth, 10, and William, 2, believes that today’s pop culture more than deserves the bad rap it is often pegged with. “Pop culture is certainly not a new phenomenon,” says Ball. “It’s been around forever it seems. When my mother was 10 years old, she wasn’t allowed to watch Elvis when he performed at the state fair. Today, our children are bombarded with images of pop culture from every direction – television, the Internet, cell phones, magazines, commercials.” And much of that is definitely not positive for children.
According to Ron Mumbower, the Counseling Director for Summit Counseling in Jackson, the biggest challenge is that today’s pop culture has made children the center of the universe. “Today’s children truly believe that they are the most important and that whatever they want they should get,” he explains. “Marketing tools like a ‘Happy Meal’ tell the child that if you buy this, you’ll be happy. ‘Have it Your Way’ or ‘For Everything Else, There’s Mastercard.’ It’s about getting it now and not having to wait. You don’t have to earn it and you don’t have to work for it. You are entitled to it.”
In her book, It’s Not the Media: the Truth About Pop Culture’s Influence on Children, Karen Sternheimer argues that while the media is not the biggest threat to our children, she agrees that in some cases pop culture does have a significant, often negative impact on children. “Stereotypical images of women as sexual objects persist, as do narrow portrayals of racial, ethnic, and religious minority group members,” she wrote. “Limited or absent representations of the elderly, the plus-sized, Asian Americans, and Latinos reflect the tendency of mass entertainment to focus on a limited portrait of American life.”
Since it is virtually impossible to completely shield children from the messages they run into on a daily basis, parental guidance and dialogue is vital. “Parents can and should use these instances as teachable moments,” advises McAlpin. “For example, when a young, unmarried celebrity becomes pregnant, children’s exposure to this information seems nearly inevitable. It’s important that we as adults take these opportunities to discuss with our children the consequences of leading risky lifestyles. It becomes problematic when young people are forced to deal with this information without proper guidance from parents and other adults with sound judgment. Children of all ages continue to look to adults to see how they will react to situation even though on occasion they may appear disinterested in our opinions.”
Ball follows that same philosophy when facing such encounters with her children. “We enjoy watching television with our children and using it as a springboard for conversations about our beliefs and values,” she says. “Shows like Extreme Makeover for example, seem to portray that outward beauty is what matters the most. When the commercials come on, we remind her that it’s our belief that it’s what’s on the inside that matters.”
Heather Norton, the counselor at Sumner Hill Junior High in Clinton says that keeping the lines of communication open with your children often dilute the impact of pop culture. “Parents need to make time for their children,” she says. “Finding time to teach children family values and morals is necessary if we want our children to be prepared for peer pressure and decision making for their future. Our children need to know that they can come to a trusted adult for help when faced with difficult situations.”
Mumbower suggests that above all, family interaction can often take the place of television, radio, and internet. “Go for walks. Sit down for a meal together at least twice a week,” he said. “When in the car, turn off the radios and phones and find out about each other’s days.”
Amanda Wells is a freelance writer who lives in Brandon with her husband and their two daughters.
