- my iParenting
- quick clicks
- preteenagers today articles
- preteenagers today q&a
- teenagers today articles
- teenagers today q&a
- community & groups
- research baby names
- prepare a birth plan
- content channels
- ip channel rss feeds
- read birth stories
- read parenting stories
- recommended books
- e-newsletters
- safety recalls
- ip diaries
- ip store
- mom of the month
- dad of the month
- editor's letter
- letters to the editor
From Our Sponsors
- e-newsletters
- Sign up to receive our free weekly e-newsletters
- award-winning products
The iParenting Media Awards program helps parents find the best products for their families.
Out-of-control Idol
Combating Your Teen's Negative Celebrity Role Models
By Teri Brown
According to Courtney, when teens are subjected to a constant barrage of negative news regarding celebrities and pop stars, it is easy to become desensitized to their bad behavior. Often, they are left with the false impression that their idols lead glamorous lives and some teens will desire to emulate the bad behavior in a quest to be like them.
"In a news junkie culture, there will always be an overdose of stories devoted to poor role models and the poor choices they make," she says. "If parents don't draw appropriate boundaries to limit their teens' media diets, their silence on the topic will send a message of endorsement. Parents can't protect their teens from poor role models 100 percent of the time, but they can limit the exposure, as well as teach them to discern the positive and negative examples they are witnessing among the celebs and pop stars."
Courtney says it's important that parents recognize that their children seem to be enamored with certain celebs or pop stars who are garnering attention for their bad behavior. The quicker they recognize it the quicker they can limit their preteen's exposure.