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Top 5 Tips for Parents:
Help Your Teen Translate the Digital & Pop Culture World |
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1. Know your own beliefs regarding pop culture so you can set guidelines for your teen. |
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2. Get educated. Find out what music, Web sites and other media interest your teen. These will change, so ask often. |
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3. Learn how to analyze media messages, so you can help your teen translate them. |
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4. Engage in media use with your teen and get comfortable with new technologies, especially if your child is using them. Use these opportunities to talk about what is credible and why. |
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5. Encourage teens to think critically about what they hear, see and read. |
We live in a culture obsessed with celebrity and the latest trends. And teens are often at the center of it all. There is an entire industry focused on marketing movies, music, fashion and other products to teen audiences. So it’s no wonder that many parents feel helpless trying to compete with many of values that popular culture promotes.
You are not alone if you feel frustrated trying to guide your teen in a positive way. But the reality is that pop culture is here to stay. And for teens, there’s no escaping it. So how can you as a parent make peace with pop culture?
First, define your own values and those that are important to instill in your teen.
Think about this before you have a conversation with your teen. Be clear and honest with yourself. We’re all influenced by popular culture to some degree and you should understand your own values first. For example, how has popular culture affected your beliefs, buying decisions or self-image?
Your teen is also exposed to pop culture’s subtle messages, and these may influence his/her choices when it comes to risky behavior. Often times, the messages are hidden but powerful. As teens rattle off lyrics to the latest chart-topper, they may not understand how the words influence them. Or they may not fully grasp how celebrity magazines feed the need to be thin or on fashion’s cutting edge. Sometimes these negative values can be destructive, leading to cigarette smoking, purging or abusing drugs.
You are your teen’s primary role model. Once you’ve defined which values are important to you, give your teen some guidance. Set a good example. Talk about the values that are embedded in popular culture. Encourage your teen to define his/her own values as well. And emphasize the advantages of independence and free-thinking.
Other topics to think about:
- What type of movies, based on the Motion Picture Association’s rating system
 (PG, NC-17, R, etc.), do you allow your teen to see?
- Does your teen have music that includes obscene lyrics and sexual references?
- Is your teen allowed to watch TV or surf the net unsupervised?
- What does your teen spend his/her money on?
Want more information on how to choose what your kids watch, hear, and play? Visit Pause Parent Play for additional guidance.
Go to “Dealing with New Media and Technologies” >>
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