Use the media and start young
The same media that exploits sex and violence for profit can also be used to help educate and inform your child. There are some movies and TV shows that teach good values and it is important that your child see that side of the story too.
Disney released the film Cadet Kelly in 2002, starring Hillary Duff. The film centers on a fashion conscious girl who is sent to a military academy where she has to conform to a strict dress code that doesn’t match her personal style.
During the movie, Kelly learns that even though she can’t wear the clothes she prefers there are still ways she can express herself as a unique individual and be respected.
Movies like these can help your child understand that there are other ways to show their personal style. It is very important to start this at a young age, before the onslaught of over-sexualized media begins.
Seize the opportunity
Now is the time to help your child express how unique and talented they are without inviting social stigma. While there will be some compromise involved, it is possible to show your child how important it is to dress appropriately and help them develop a better understanding of their own tastes, learn to stand up to peer pressure, and have greater confidence in their own abilities.
The images that the media bombards us with are inescapable, no matter how closely you monitor what your child views on the televisions, reads, or whom they associate with. However, with patience and understanding, it is possible to ensure that your child dresses in a manner that is socially appropriate as well as furthering their development as an individual.