The Sexualization of Early Childhood

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