Sexualization is a topic in my house lately as my oldest
child is slowly at 7 years young coming into some questions I feel are being
asked too soon. I am so glad that she knows that she is able to come home from
school and discuss her day with us. It has been hard to talk about a few of the
topics, peer pressure being the big one right now, but I know it is important
to ensure my kids are smart and think about what they do prior to acting. I to
this do cannot believe that I told my children “this is a tide pod we do not
eat these and if someone tells you to you find an adult”. I mean it’s too much
these days.
I find
more in the classrooms we are working through issues of sexualization. Many of
the issues we find are as discussed in the article the use of song lyrics or
inappropriate dancing. It becomes a fine line between educating the parents as
well as modeling different ways to dance and enjoy music. Culture is an
important part to remembering when talking to parents some dance is important
and can be seductive, but to their culture is not supposed to entice others
rather be a way to speak with their body through music. I struggle with this
topic and the feeling of innocence taken too soon.
Three
examples that stick out in my mind are each a way I see the children are being
exposed too early to ways and ideas of how they should act.
In
Mountain Home AFB, there was a child that struggle severely with his behaviors.
He would explode and first reaction was always take off my shoes and throw them
at the person. He would use language at the other children telling them they
shouldn’t eat something it would make them fat or that if you don’t have huge
muscles you would be a loser. The mother and father were both very focused on
their appearance they wouldn’t allow hugs or kisses prior to work and you would
hear some of these phrases or similar come out of the parents’ mouth to the
child. When we brought in a family consoler there began to be improvements in
behavior with work through the language and lifestyles at home.
In Alaska
AFB, there was a toddler who would twerk. When music would come on she would begin
to do the moves in a highly seductive manor to those around her. When we spoke
with her mother I remember her talking about the oldest child beginning a dance
hip hop group and how this child had been attending practice. She was repeating
an action that someone she loved was doing and getting positive attention for
when doing so (Levin, 2009). Modeling different ways to dance and exploring
movement got her side tracked along with mom enrolling her in a class
appropriate for her age.
Finally,
in Tyndall AFB there was a kindergarten couple found under the bleachers
playing doctor. The children said they had heard about it on a popular movie
that had come out. This was an immediate action we met with both sets of
parents. I remember the moms of both children being in disbelief that they
would act out scenes from the movie. Being exposed to media that is not
appropriate for children creates a normalcy to it making acts more of the norm
than I believe they shroud be (Levin, 2009). Working with the families’ discussions
were had and the children were able to be in the program just more monitored
than they once were.
I have
found that the MFLCs (Military Family Life Consolers) we have on base have been
wonderful at assisting and supporting as we see these issues as well as other
issues arise in the classrooms. Being able to have them in the buildings for
support is a great resource for the children, families and staff to utilize
when needed. Children are curious and if they enter into the world each day
they will be exposed, but being able to properly discuss and dissect situations
is important (Levin, 2009). Creating positive relationships is also a great way
to break down issues as or before they arise. Giving the child a person to talk
to who is safe and will support them gives them security in difficult
situations (Levin, 2009).
This week
gives support and other ideas of what can be classified as a sexualization in
early learning classrooms. Being mindful all while having the language as well
as resources to reduce these behaviors is important. Showing positive images of
the genders, creating self-worth and positive social identity all starts early
and as educators we must all take part in laying this framework (Derman-Sparks,
2010).
Reference:
Derman-Sparks,
L., & Olsen Edwards, J. (2010). Anti-bias education for young children and ourselves. Washington,
D.C.: National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).
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. Retrieved
from: http://dianeelevin.com/sosexysosoon/introduction.pdf
