Many of you have been asking about costumes for Halloween. What kind? What should I allow? My daughter/son wants __________ but I think it's too inappropriate/grown up/dangerous/bad role model...the list goes on.
For the last year many of you have been working with me on issues regarding the media circus and the "news" that your children are exposed to even when they don't want to be. TV consumption includes "breaking news" about Lindsay Lohan, Britney Spears and Paris Hilton on a regular basis. These people are not lauded for their positive achievements, to put it mildly.
As politics becomes more celebritized the major issues of the day become cause for "celeb"ration and it's hard to know what to believe or why people are promoting the causes they do. (To those of you who asked about my opinions on Al Gore and the Nobel prize let's leave it at this....)
Tips for Being Proactive About Role Models:
Halloween can be a great time to get a discussion going about heroes.
*What is a hero?
*What makes a person heroic?
*What's the difference between a real hero and someone who just plays one on tv?
*Why is that celebrity getting attention for negative behaviors?
*Whose actions should we pay attention to in the news?
Make a chart with your child listing positive and negative traits.
*Ask questions like why?
*Who has this trait?
*Why is it an important one to have?
*How do you think it can be helpful or hurtful in your life?
Keep a scrapbook (electronic or clippings) of heroes and heroic behavior. Keep it for your own reference and to use as examples with your child when a topic or situation arises.
I was lucky enough to speak with Bryan Brown at Junior Scholastic about the topic. He wrote a terrific article with some of my thoughts on the topic -"Hero or celebrity: don't confuse the glitter of stardom with real heroism" which you can find here - http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Hero+or+celebrity:+don't+confuse+the+glitter+of+stardom+with+real...-a0159390400
Enjoy your weekend!
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3 comments:
Thanks for the Halloween info. I'm having a really tough time knowing how to talk to my teenage daughter about Britney and co. I try and monitor what she does on the web but I feel so helpless and hopeless about keeping all this garbage away from her.
I'm not a prude and certainly did my share of getting into trouble when I was a teenager but even with all the stuff we had coming at us it was nothing like what's out there and getting into our homes today.
Have you heard the lyrics to that song "Before He Cheats" by Carrie Underwood??? My daughter's been singing it all over the house and I could NOT believe my ears. This is not the kind of behavior I want her to think is acceptable!!!
Concerned and at a loss as to what to do....
Hi Kiki,
I love those tips about making the chart and the scrapbook and all but how old is too old to be making them?
I have one little one in pre-school and my older one is in middle school.
Anything you can think of that would be appropriate for both?
Diana V.
I have heard that Carrie Underwwod song and I won't allow it in the house.
Kiki - any thoughts on who are some role models for today? We ahve a 16 year old son and not that they listen to anything at that age but I figured if I could sneak in some thoughts without him thinking I'm trying to tell him anything then maybe - whatever.
They say it gets easier when they're like in their 60s. I'm not so sure right now if I can hold on until he turns 18 and goes off to college.
Thanks for the information though - it's a good feeling of support.
Exhausted
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