Should you be worried about your teen’s celebrity adoration?
Should you be concerned about your child’s celebrity obsession? We take a look at ways you can cope with this stage in your child's life.
While it may seem a little strange, obsession with celebrities is a normal part of growing up.
As children enter adolescence and begin to form their own identities, they look to media figures for guidance on how to dress and act. That’s why assisting them in finding positive role models is a fantastic idea.
In today’s media environment, tweens have access to an almost limitless amount of information. They can watch every movie their heroes have appeared in on Netflix, track down every late-night talk show appearance on YouTube, read their bio on Wikipedia or IMDB, look at candid photos, and read celebrity gossip on celebrity gossip websites. They can also share their enthusiasm with their friends via social media and fan sites.
All of this may seem excessive to you, but it’s probably fine unless it interferes with your child’s life.
When should you be concerned?
When children go to extremes that have a negative impact, this is a sign of a potentially dangerous celebrity crush. They may spend all of their money (or ask to borrow yours) to imitate their favourite celebrities. To imitate them, they may engage in potentially dangerous body modifications. Alternatively, they may cause themselves physical harm, such as cutting their skin and posting the results on social media to demonstrate the depth of their feelings.
Keep an eye on things
Check in with your teen if you’re not sure how serious your child’s celebrity obsession is. Watch the star’s movies together, ask questions about the celebrity, and figure out whether it’s all in good fun or if her obsession is causing her problems. If it disrupts your child’s sleep, homework, social life, self-esteem, or relationship with you, you may be dealing with a more serious problem.
Here are 3 suggestions for coping with this stage in your child’s life:
- Don’t take it lightly: Even if it’s tempting to mockingly declare yourself a “Belieber” and flaunt your insane dance moves, kids may perceive you as dismissing them.
- Encourage it within reason: Yes, she might be able to get Taylor Swift concert tickets. No, she will not be accompanying Taylor Swift on her nationwide concert tour.
- Discuss any issues that arise: Kids may discover tidbits about a celebrity during their obsessive research that they want to discuss with you. Take advantage of these opportunities to share your values. Keep the lines of communication open, even if you disagree.
