Baby Names - Help! I've got a 'tween!Filed under: 8-9 years, Pre-teen, Television,

Help! I've got a 'tween!

Filed under: 8-9 years, Pre-teen, Television, Magazines, Exploring, Marketing to kids, Cassidy

I have a budding 'tween child in my home. My daughter Cassidy is nearly ten years-old, but I often wonder if she is actually going on 16 or 17. Lately I find myself sending her back to her room to change into a shirt that doesn't reveal her bellybutton when she raises her hands in the air. I know part of this is due to the fact that she is growing at an alarming rate and many of her shirts no longer fit correctly, but I know that the other part of it is due to the societal marketing of sexiness to young girls.

Everywhere my daughter looks there seems to be a message that sex sells, and she wants to eat it up with the biggest spoon possible. The Disney Channel features young girls wearing way too much make-up as they flounce about in form fitting, body revealing outfits while they flirt with boys. The magazines in the grocery stores show those same girls on their covers. The cosmetics aisles at Target have a special section with bright, fun flavored make-up marketed just for this age group. And that is precisely part of the problem of marketing to the 'tween population, it all looks like so much darn fun to this age group. My daughter seems to believe that if she globs on some bright, watermelon lip gloss, slithers into a tight shirt and sparkly pants that all will be good and fun in her life. What isn't good and fun is her mother who repeatedly says, "No way. That shirt is too small. Those pants need to be higher on your hips. Nine year-olds do NOT wear make-up to church."

I am not really sure how to deal with the 'tween issues other than to exercise patience, establish boundaries and be prepared to exhibit those two tools over and over, day after day. What about you and your 'tween? Any suggestions?

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