Sexualization is one of the most major issues in the United States of America I see this issues just about every day. My reaction to the topic of the sexualization of early childhood it is a major issue in school, in the home, and especially, in the community. I see young children at the age of 4 year old dress up like a grown person. Not only are they dressing like older young ladies they also dancing, singing, walking, and rapping like them. They also are during what they see the adults do in their home environment. Rules and regulations in the home atmosphere had changed since, from the way I was reared up. Dad and mom taught and implanted in all of his 15 children’s “To be a child and when we get to be grown act like you all are grown young ladies and men”. We did not have televisions, computers, IPods, tablets, telephones, or cell phones all of these items are a temptation for this new generation.
Examples: 1. (Too much
freedom) Young children as young as 10 have a computer in their bedroom seeing
materials, pictures and people that not appropriate for young children. The
parents are not checking and seeing what the child is looking at on the
computer. 2. (Negative influences) the parents are living any way in front of
their children and not being the parents letting the children being the
parents. We have to be positive role models to our children because the baby
sitters are rearing the children in today society. Parents are dressing their
children like strippers and thinking it pretty. Children are going to be
children it is up to the parents to take of them. God forbid how today society
are rearing up these young children not only Americans but also races gender,
religious and ethnic groups of people (Levin & Kilbourne 2009). 3.
(Listening) the latest music young children are listening to today. The style
of music it is ashamed for parents to let their children hear this loud unholy
music. Especially, the rappers they need to be arrested on how they have a
negative influence on these young people. The words that proceed out of these
rappers mouth should be a law against them. Calling people the N word God
forbid, and so do I. You can say what you will or may word bring forth action
that is some of the reason while so many of our black children are in trouble
today. This is my personal point of view that we as adults need to lay the
foundation for young children by being a positive role models, mentors, and
advocators. We can not lie on the white men because we can be whatever we want
to be no one is holding us down. We are our own worth enemy because “Quitters
never wins and winners never quit.”
The implication this may have on children’s healthy development
is that it impacts negative influence on children. When children receive
negative influences, it brings forward worries especially to the parents.
Children want to be like some of these rappers and music makers and will do
what the words of the songs say do. Music has spirits carry with it and it like
control of the mind. We as parents should make our children number one priority
in our lives. Whatever
happens to attending church, attending Sunday school, Youth Day’s and hearing
the word of God? Whatever happens to the United States of America believing in
treating everyone the same? The United States was the most religious nation in
the world where the teachers used to pray every morning. When prayer was taken
out of school guns, dope, drugs, and alcoholic can in destroying our young
children. We as professionals need to sets standards and values to learn how to
present ourselves as positive role models. Most children imitate the adults it
is essential for as teachers to be positive role models, advocators, and
mentors for our young children.
I think that
professionals need to take this issue very serious because our children are
being growing up in a speedy pace. We should educate ourselves and the young
children families. Most families are very young and baby themselves and have no
idea about rearing children. Young children are very uneducated in today
society and do not take the time to help children with their homework. We have
to figure out some ways to help educated these parents, on how to care for
their children. I see it every day how young parents are dressing their
children like adults. I believe in letting children be children until they grow
into adulthood. Ways to influences positive influences is by monitoring what
the children watch on TV, and Computers. When children are on the computer or
watching TV be their guide in what they see and hear. Make it a PACT Time
thing. Parent and Children Time Together.
Cedar,
ReplyDeleteit really is sad to think about how sexualized children are today at such extreme young ages. I think you're right that what is happening in children's homes is part of the problem ... there are fewer rules, and the children are exposed to more sexualization than ever before because of the media, which parents are regulating less and less. You said we need to educate the parents more on what is and is not appropriate for children. If only this were easy to do. Have you tried educating the families on healthy development of children? If so, what kind of reactions have you gotten?
Great post, Cedar!
Lydia
I totally agree with how the little younger girls are dressing and dancing. How could a parent allow their small children to expose their body to the world any kind of way and dance like an adult. I know of a group in my city that has little girls half naked on a dance group. I think it is a disgrace to others. If you are letting your small girls dress like that at the age of 5-10 what else are you going to expect when they are teenagers and they want to dress like that at anytime. What could you say if you started them out like that at an early age.
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