So Sexy, So Soon

08/07/2008

Give children the time and the space to work it out.
Karen Stephens

Yesterday (August 6, 2008) on The Today Show, Jean Kilbourne and Exchange writer Diane E. Levin, were interviewed about their just released book, So Sexy So Soon: The New Sexualized Childhood and What Parents Can Do to Protect Their Kids. In this timely book, Kilbourne and Levin argue that popular culture and technology inundate our children with an onslaught of mixed messages at earlier ages than ever before. Corporations capitalize on this disturbing trend, and without the emotional sophistication to understand what they are seeing and doing, kids are increasingly getting into trouble emotionally and socially; some may even engage in precocious sexual behavior. Parents are left shaking their heads, wondering: How did this happen? What can we do?

Note: While Kilbourne and Levin presented their case very well, one couldn't help but notice on the other parts of the program the Today hosts adulated over news about Paris Hilton and Bruce Willis' actress daughter.

So Sexy So Soon is an invaluable and practical guide for parents who are fed up, confused, and even scared by what their kids — or their kids’ friends — do and say. The authors not only describe the problem, they also offer practical advice to parents such as...

Help your children expand their imaginations by suggesting new ways for them to play with toys; for example, instead of “playing house” with dolls, they might send their toys on a backyard archeological adventure.
Counteract the narrow gender stereotypes in today’s media: ask your son to help you cook; get your daughter outside to play ball.
Share your values and concerns with other adults — relatives, parents of your children’s friends — and agree on how you’ll deal with TV and other media when your children are at one another’s houses.

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