Tween Superstars

Barnes, B. (2011). Tween stars wanted: must be primed for pressure. New York: New York Times. 

Reflections

As I said before, I am a parent of a tween, and I am forced to watch and listen to the Miley's, the Bieber's, and the Demi's. Luckily I have a "barely tween aged" daughter and she only gets her entertainment and media sources from Nickelodeon and Disney. I buy her CD's and we listen to family friendly radio. I do know that I am living in a denial state right now and I know that when she grows up a little I will have to worry about her influences from the outside world. Just the other day she was humming a tune and I realized that it was K$sha and I got so sad!! When the whole drama with Demi Lovato happened and television and radio was blasting news about her rehab, I did sit down any explain to my daughter what happened. I think that it is important to use these role models and show our children that just because they are famous does not mean that they are untouchable. Instead of putting these people on pedestals, our tweens need to put themselves on them. I think as a librarian we can let these children know that they are rock stars in their own right, and that they can be anything they want themselves to be. Cheezy I know..but these kids need encouragement every chance they can get. 


This article sums of the controversy of the tween craze in entertainment and the sometimes disastrous affect that it has on the person behind the superstar. It goes on to reiterate the fact that children's television is at a transitional moment and that tweens are being manufactured at an alarming rate. Things aren't so easy for them and instead of just showing up and smiling on a television show, they now also have to belt out songs, create clothing lines, star in television shows and then in their spin offs, all at the same time of trying to live a normal childhood.