The Sexualization of Early Childhood

I have worked in the early childhood setting for about 10 years. I have seen a lot of things. Every year I am surprised by the circumstances that I see. I have had children that joke all the time that they have boy friends or girl friends. My take on that is you are too young to be thinking about that. Then some children talk about how mommy and daddy where kissing in the bedroom. You would think at four that these are issues that wouldn’t be found in preschool. It never fails that children try to play the game if you show me yours I’ll show you mine. Keeping a very close eye on children in all areas is very important. I have also had children kiss their friends. When I explained to them that we don’t kiss our friends. They say well my parent kiss their friends. I know in some homes that might be true but in school we don’t do that.

I also never thought I would see children wearing make up in preschool. I was shocked when a little girl came in her first day of school covered in make-up and wears really tight provocative clothing. I was a little thrown back. I have to say that there were a lot of other parents that were as well.  I understood better when the mom came in wearing clothes twice as tight and had about the same amount of make up on. “Children growing up today are bombarded from a very early age with graphic messages about sex and sexiness in the media and popular culture” (Levin & Kilbourne, 2009, p.2).

Children seem to see things on TV and think that this is how things are social accepted. For instance my daughter dresses like her favorite Disney show girls. I catch her mix matching her clothes and then saying oh but it’s in style now. Mom catch up the girls on Disney do it. I feel lost because I see children all the time and don’t see some of the styles she tries to pull off. Over all I feel that there are so many things that children see either on television, in their environments, and through media that they seem to feel are socially acceptable.

Resources

Katch, H., & Katch, J. (2010). Voices inside schools: When boys won't be boys: Discussing gender with young children. Harvard Educational Review, 80(3), 379-390. Retrieved from the Walden Library using the Education Research Complete database: http://ezp.waldenulibrary.org/login?url=http://proquest.umi.com.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/pqdweb?did=2155578791&sid=1&Fmt=3&clientId=70192&RQT=309&VName=PQD

Levin, D. E., & Kilbourne, J. (2009). [Introduction]. So sexy so soon: The new sexualized childhood and what parents can do to protect their kids (pp. 1-8). New York: Ballantine Books. Retrieved from: http://dianeelevin.com/sosexysosoon/introduction.pdf

Wardle, F. (2011). Responding to racial and ethnic diversity in early childhood programs. Exchange (01648527), 198, 68-71. Retrieved from the Walden Library using the Education Research Complete database: http://ezp.waldenulibrary.org/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ehh&AN=59177263&site=ehost-live&scope=site