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Television Role-Models
Ah, how well we remember the heroes of our childhoods. Clean-cut teenagers in mouse ears and athletes making a difference in the lives of others stole our hearts. We wanted to be just like them and did what we could to follow in their, often mammoth, footsteps. Are role-models of today the same quality as the ones of our past? Do we really know who kids are looking up to today? Are we sure we really want to know?
Singers
The sweet and punky girls of the 1980s, and the wholesome boy bands of the 1990s seem to be lost to the abyss of time. This is not to say there are not good role-models around the music scene. If we disregard the almost nude performers and plethora of entertainers with criminal records, there are a few solid citizens with values we can appreciate.
It may come as a surprise to learn that some of the toughest rap artists are actually wholesome kids who attended private school. These individuals used artistic talent as a stepping stone to industry leadership and are now giving back to other countries and individuals in need. Other young pop stars shun the sensual appearances and lyrics of the day in order to remain true to their good nature.
Athletes
Once upon a time, athletes were not only skilled in their game, but careful to maintain decorum and professionalism off the field. There were notable exceptions to this rule, but overall, athletes were excellent role models. While athletes of strong and noble character still exist, the media spotlight seems to shine brightest on athletes with questionable moral character. High profile trials or arrests for drug use, as well as blatant publicity stunts make many athletes unsavory to the masses. If one looks beyond the media spotlight, however, there are still many reputable athletes attempting to uphold their status as role-model.
Television Characters
The range of characters on television is astonishing. Some channels make it a point to air only family programming with strong moral codes and values. The characters on these programs often are well-mannered, hardworking, and perfect examples for young people of the day. Other shows, particularly at prime time or on channels devoted to teen audiences, have child or teenage characters seriously lacking in moral fiber. Many claim these shows demonstrate humanity as it truly is, and they are extremely popular for this very reason. Only you can decide if popularity is enough merit to make the show acceptable for your child.
It is important for parents to follow their child’s interests closely. A parent can only help guide a child’s fascinations away from the negative and in a more positive direction if they are vigilant about what the child is watching or listening to. If a child is fixated on a negative role-model, the best a parent may be able to do is research the individual well enough to find some trait that is positive. Perhaps the athlete who is currently facing rape charges overcame learning disabilities as a child. Every individual contains elements of good and bad, and a true role-model will simply emphasize the better elements.
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