After reading the article, “So sexy, so soon”, I was truly bothered. I work in a public school system at a primary school that has pre-k through second grade students and I have seen some of the things that the article mentions. Parents need to be made aware of what their child and their child’s friends are doing, not only at school but even in their own homes and neighborhoods.
Some ways that I have observed children the sexualization are: I have observed some of my pre-k students singing certain songs, dance a certain way, and even talk like they are much older than they actually are. I have seen young children participate in videos, watching certain movies, I have even heard a first grader telling another student, “Hit me up on Facebook”. I am not sure if he has a Facebook page or not, but that is way too young for a first grader to even have that conversation. There was another incident were a second grade female student told another student that her sister took some pictures of her and she would send them to her on her phone, the principal was there as well.
These situations help to make our children grow p faster than they already do, there is a time and place for everything and young children should be kept away from certain issues at such an early age. Children have too many electronic devices and not enough of outside and kid games. I would suggest that early childhood professional redirect young children when these issues arise and I have told my own students that, “School is not the place for that type of behavior, we are here to learn.” However, in all reality a young child should not be involved in that behavior until they are able to understand the differences in what are good choices and not so good choices. I would show and have examples of good behavior versus bad behavior.
I have learned that as an early childhood educator I must be prepared for any and all issues that arise, with young children and if I cannot help a young child with an issue, I must use outside resources. Young children need to be sheltered and loved and not given the opportunities to grow up so fast. The society is full of mischief, so we as adults must help the young child to grow and learn responsibly.
Reference: Levin, D. E., & Kilbourne, J. (2009). [Introduction]. So sexy so soon: The new sexualized childhood and what parents can do to protect their kids (pp. 1–8). New York: Ballantine Books.
Lori,
ReplyDeleteYour example of young girls dancing sexy is so common sadly. I agree with you in that we need to take the tv and electronics away from our kids, so they can go outside to play. Television has had such a powerful influence on all children. Girls are being brainwashed into being sexy to survive in society while young boys are being taught to be tough and aggressive. Great post!
Lori,
ReplyDeleteYou are right, we do need to protect children. Unfortunately we can only do so much. Parents don't always pay attention to what their children are exposed to. I used to set parental controls on our tv and computer. Often children can navigate around our control. I can't understand the words or meaning of the words in some of the songs. I'm sure other parents don't realize what their children are listening to as well. It's scares me to see what children are exposed to.
Lori,
ReplyDeleteGreat points! I think sometimes adults do not realize how harmful and inappropriate exposure to such adult themed topics are to young children. I think part of our role is to share what we are learning about the impacts of the sexualization of young children.
Hello Lori,
ReplyDeleteWe live in a society were media plays such an important factor, children spend hours in front of the tv, or computer. Parents having to work long hour or even over time to be able to cover the basic necesities that children are left along and the media and the computer are becoming their teachers, and what are they learning. As the article mentiones children are constantly encountering sexual messages and images that they cannot understand and confuse them. This is something serious that as a society we need to work together to change, for the health of all our children and future adults.
i haqve to agree with everyone. I have been letting my 4 year old use my Ipad thinking that it was an excellent learning tool. I down loaded the Team Umi Zoomi Math, Dora the Explorer reading games and several other applications just for her. At first she washaving fun and using all these applications, then she figured out how to navigate to youtube and I caught her watching things that I did not approve of. I have had to learn to be more elctronically savvy to block these sites so that she can only use the educational tools. The other night she said "mommy, watch me dance". The dance moves that she was mimmicking were moves that I could not even do! It is a super scary world to raise our children in. We just have to ensure we are watching them and constantly communicating with them.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely agree, it is up to us as educators but it is also up to the parents. After school hours, weekends, holidays, summer vacation and more are out of our hands and our control. It can only take a few minutes or seconds for a child to be exposed to a situation that they never forget. The more a child sees a situation, the more comfortable they become. This is a partnership, educators need support from the parents.
ReplyDeleteLori,
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that parents now a days often don't realize how much children are exposed to. Technology is great but at the same time it can be dangerous because of the content. Children's shows have become more and more simplified and don't convey the right messages in my opinion. Children are told that they need to date to be popular and should make grown up decisions. I think you are right about having the children go back to being children.