‘Watch What Your Kids Read Too’

According to some psychologists, educators and parents, teen magazines can exacerbate depression and anxiety for young girls who feel they are inadequate or imperfect. But do these publicaitons have as much influence on teens as they are credited with? MAURA E. MONTELLANO spoke with the mother of two girls.

CAROL J. DEVINE

39, Studio City

Katie, who is 11, wants to get TeenPeople magazine and once in a while I do get it for her if it has someone on the cover that I know she really likes. I look at the guidelines on these magazines and base my decision on whether they are age appropriate. I don’t subscribe to magazines like Teen-People, Glamour or YM because they are inappropriate for her or her younger sister. I want to keep my girls young as long as possible. These magazines talk about things that are way too grownup for them. I would rather have them talk to me about things like sex and boys than find out about them through a magazine.

I think my daughters living in 1999 have more pressure than I did growing up in the 1970s. We were watching a show about young girls having nose jobs and breast implants; they were just 16 years old. These are the people whom these young girls look up to. That is why parents have to ingrain a sense of self into their children as soon as they are able to understand.

I gave Katie her first Barbie doll at age 3 and told her that her body would never look like Barbie. I am very open with her. I started talking to her about the changes in her body because she had many questions. I feel they should be prepared. That is why I think she has a healthy attitude about her body.

These magazines talk about dating and boys a lot. One magazine talked about how to make yourself more attractive to a boy. I have been trying to teach my girls since they were very young that they must do things for themselves, to make them feel good about themselves. I tell them that they do not need a boy to validate them.

I try to monitor what my girls are exposed to as much as I can. As far as TV goes, Katie can only watch certain shows and movies. Even some PG-13 movies are still inappropriate for her. Parents must take responsibility with their children. A lot of parents want to blame other people, the media, the teachers. It’s not the thin models, the music videos or anything else. It’s what they learn at home.