Who Are Your Tween’s Role Models?

Tweens are easily influenced, and thus, as a parent it is important to know who your tween’s role models are and what they are modeling. The tween role models today are not exactly the things we want our tweens to be aspiring to become. The following are some of the popular tween role models for boys and girls:

The Disney Channel stars tend to be the role models for the majority of tweens. The following is a look of the breakdown of who the most popular role models are for your tween girls and boys.

Girls: Girls tend to idolize the people who are in mainstream media, who are cute, who have celebrity status, and who dress and act the way they wish they could dress and act. Many tween girls choose people like Miley Cyrus and Britney Spears as their role models.

Miley Cyrus- Miley Cyrus started out as a decent enough role model, and one that kids could look up to as she sings good lyrics, and tended to have some moral story in her television shows. However, as time went by, her dress became more provocative, her performances more provocative, and her public appearances a little more edgy. Recently AOL conducted a web poll, and Miley Cyrus was voted the worst celebrity influence for tweens. It is reported that because of her pole dancing, and nearly nude shoots with Vogue, and other provocative attire. It is good to know what kind of tween role model your tween chooses. Miley is probably not a good choice.

Britney Spears- Britney is another tween role model, and another singer. She too is a role model because of her dramatic shows, catchy lyrics, and very public life. However, she too is a poor role model with her provocative apparel, and immoral life.

Boys: Many parents forget about who their boy tween role models are. They often pay attention to the girl role models because they affect things that are visual. Girl’s role models may affect how they dress. With the boys, however, the influence is more mental. It is usually an attitude. For tween boys, role models are typically sports stars like Tiger Woods and Kobe Bryant. Neither of which is a very moral role model.

Pretty much anyone who makes millions and is in the public spotlight is going to be a role model–whether they are a pop star or a sports star. It is important to recognize whether their influence is good or bad. And more importantly, it is important to talk to your tween about whether or not they are a good role model for them. Discuss with them the good and bad things that their role model does so that they do not idolize their every move just because they are a public figure with a high bank balance.