Hannah Montana as a role model for 6-year olds?

I've only recently become aware of the sensation that is Hannah Montana, aka Miley Cyrus, and this morning's Oregonian gave me just a little too much information. Enough to make me feel really old and cronyish. Disney is turning Hannah Montana into a lifestyle brand for the tween set. (And has the tween set gotten younger? Because this show targets 6-11 year olds.) Amusement parks, books, DVDs, clothing, accessories, cosmetics -- the whole nine yards is coming. Disney wants your daughter to want to be Hannah Montana: normal Malibu-dwelling teenager by day, rock star by night.

(Must resist the urge to start the next sentence with, "In my day...") I know that this is just the way our culture is these days. It's all reality TV (did you know that American Idol is the most popular show for kids age 6-11, followed by Hannah Montana?) and celebrity-worship and making overnight sensations out of regular joes. Fine, whatever. When I was a kid, Laura Ingalls was my role model -- both the book and TV version -- and I know that she had a big influence on my life. The books and TV show were all about family, work and community. I don't remember a silly teenage girl icon from the 70s who was shoved down our throats the way Disney does with its starlets today. It's like Disney wants our kids to grow up so fast so that they will bug their parents to buy them all this stuff. 

We don't watch the Disney channel, so my daughter's exposure to Hannah Montana & company will come from classmates (and I have no doubt that it will come). I don't want her to live in a bubble (yes, I actually do) but I never dreamed I would be facing this kind of commercial influence so early in her life. If she were twelve or fourteen it might be different, but she's not even six yet! How do you preserve the innocence of childhood when you can't open a magazine or walk through a grocery store without being bombarded by a million different Disney-esque icons? Am I overreacting? Out of touch? Are you a little freaked out by the Hannahs and Ravens and High School Musicals of this world? Or are they a harmless, inevitable part of our children's lives? (Take a deep breath and find your happy place. Good.)

Comments

[Renee]

I think this kind of marketing is pretty sick. We had a lively discussion at our preschool yesterday, and I know I'm not alone here. Lots of moms had rules about not putting branded clothing on their kids (including princess undies and Dora shoes). I thought this was admirable, altho I haven't done it myself.

Learning about all the Hannah Montana mania makes me wonder why *anyone* would let their precious child aspire to stardom at a young age. Most child stars fare so poorly in life in the long run. Ron Howard is the only person I can think of who seemed to grow up and survive the curse of the child-star.

The thing that bothers me the most is that they are promoting "be like Hannah" which robs children of who they are. and like this article stressed, they are pushing a brand in place of community, which is what life is really all about.

When I think about the role models I have now, they are real people: my aunt who wrote a book, my friend who is super assertive, my other friend who is so committed to fitness. Real people. Not celebrities. I hope my kids will find real role models for their lives and feel good enough about themselves to not want to be like one of these child stars.

Last -- there's this fine line between letting your kids be exposed to what is cool du jour, and letting them be consumed by it. We hold the purse strings. Often the most powerful thing we can do is say no, at the risk of being the mean mom, rather than just shelling out the bucks to let them go to the concert and be like their friends.

[Becky]

AMEN, AMEN!! I completly agree. I will admit that I like the disney channel, well I always had liked it, but I am starting to be bugged by a few things about it as well. 1. Some of the shows are just so stupid. If "Raven" seemed to flop at the end of its TV span, why woould they make "Cory in the House" spin of from it. Just let it die. 2. Hanna Montana just rubs me wrong anyway. The kids on this show are supposed to be in middle school right. Since when is it ok to be totaly alone (or expect to be allowed to be alone)with your boyfriend so that you can kiss. What ever happened to group dating or just hanging out. Sometimes I feel like kids are encouraged into these kissing (and other things) situations b/c the "role models" they watch are so "ok with it" or "just doing it too." No wonder kids are experimenting with sex or other activities sooner. Is Hanna Montana going to promote safe sex next (please remember she's still just a kid) or eventually pass out condoms at her concerts.

I know I sound a little extreme, but we all know what "Just a little kissing" can lead too. I don't want my kiddos looking to her or anyone like her as a role model. Like you said we hold the purse strings, our kids may not want to listen, but more often than not they do hear what we say. Maybe if we are strong enough to talk to them about anything, i.e. who good role models are or about sex or drugs or smoking or even fast food choices, they will retain some and even apprecitate (although they will never admit it, just like we didn't at thier ages). I'm so glad (and I have told my parents and thanked them, even apologized for my behavior) that my parents never allowed me to be the "bad-ass rebel" that I wanted to be. Inturn maybe I will be able to do the same for my kids.

[JillyBean]

Oh Girls! Hallelujah! I thought I was one of just a few "old-fashioned-fuddy-duddy-Moms" out there. I mean this is getting so bad, I can't find shoes for my KinderGirl at Target that are age appropriate. Almost everything makes her look like a Hoochie Mamma! I want my little girl to look and behave like a LITTLE girl; not a mini Lindsay/Olsen/Brittany/Hanna(whom we've not witnessed yet). My D.D. just loves Saddle Club and that is just about as much sass as I can take.
Sound of Music and Laura, Mary, Ma & Pa Ingalls where did you go?!

[Miley Fan]

I think that Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus might not be quite appropriate for a 6 year old, but for early teen, that would be fine.
What is troubling with Miley Cyrus are some of her photo shoots with Vanity Fair and publications like that. I wonder how appropriate things like this would be for young viewers who happened to find out about this.

[alissa cody]

miley i love you as miley more then hannah .i want you 1 move star not 2.

[gravigirl]

Thank you for this article. My daughter, who just turned 6, was invited to watch this movie at the theatre for a birthday party. I was not crazy about it especially because of her age but more so that the parents, to me, really don't care what their kids are watching at age 6. My daughter is not the slightest bit interested in this character. She doesn't understand the "real life" characters on TV. In a nutshell, your article took the words right out of my mouth.

[editor of article]

i think you people need to get over your selfs stop pushing your daughters to do this do that no wonder they are so boring and shy and turning emo because they cant get friends in the future. let them watch hannah montana its just a show if they had any brains they wouldnt do that stuff at a there age :-{

[sassy mama]

ik you are soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooright editor i love the way you think ;-}

[Christine]

This Hanna Montana mania is too much. I respect and admire mothers who stick with their instincts and don't let peer pressure get in the way of responsible child rearing. 6-10 year olds are too young to be going to a rock concert. The lights,stage, dancing, craziness is too much for them emotionally. The sponsors are pushing it and the parents are biting the apple. The editor of the article comments and sassy mama's comments make it so clear why one would not take their children to such a concert. For goodness sake these two can't even write using proper English, never mind giving advice. This all or nothing thinking, so black and white just shows how primitive their own emotional skills are.