Why do young people obsess over actors and actresses? I've noticed this in my own daughter of 14 years. I think one reason is because she is living out a dream through someone else.
Is it a Stage?
My daughter is a homeschooled youth of 14. She collects movie soundtracks, movies, and tidbits about her favorite actors and actresses. She puts posters of the Hollywood favorites on her walls, pastes cut-outs in her scrapbooks, and is obsessed with gathering as much information about them as she can. This includes older movies in which they've starred that she has yet to see. Once she decides she likes a certain Hollywood actor or actress, she'll peruse the video rental shelves for anything and everything she can view that relates to said person. Is this a stage or just one of her personality quirks? After all, it has lasted for several years now. I'm not sure if it's a stage since some adults obsess over Hollywood and all it involves.
A Learning Tool
Since we've begun to homeschool, I've come to see that my daughter's obsession over Hollywood's finest can be a valuable learning tool. It causes her to research backgrounds. It helps her understand that these people are playing parts and that the characters are only portrayals. It helps her understand movies and how they are created. She also sees whether or not an actor or actress is the type of person who really does justice to her idea of them or if this person is a disappointment. It has increased her own interest in her personal talents and image. It gives her interesting information to share with other people, which opens the door to getting to know new friends.
Giving Your Child a Choice
Sometimes it is natural instinct to want to protect your child from the images portrayed by Hollywood actors and actresses. Parents who homeschool seem especially concerned with shielding their children from negative influences, which is one reason they've chosen to homeschool. But allowing your child the choice of learning about these people as real rather than just images seen on a screen will help guide them towards the right decision of the type of people they should be proud to know. If you provide the right home environment, the right guidance, and a certain amount of freedom for your child, he or she will usually make the best choices on their own instead of being determined to rebel against everything you say or do as a parent.
Not Everything You See or Hear is True
One of the benefits of allowing your children the choice to explore Hollywood actors and actresses is that it helps them learn that everything you see or hear is not necessarily true. It allows them to learn about the media, magazines, publicity, and how to search for the truth. It helps them see that judging people on the basis of what you see or hear can be wrong. Help your children to learn that it is better to dig a little deeper for the truth instead of taking things at face value about what they hear or read.
Hollywood Can Be a Positive Influence
Hollywood is not all glamour and glitz. There is much behind the scenes that children should know. Television and movies can give the mistaken impression that it is all one big party and provides the easy life. But parents can use Hollywood to teach their children reality. They can help them see that the actors and actresses have to work to get the best things in life and that this does not mean whatever money can buy. Hollywood also provides many positive movies and television shows that allow our children to exercise their imaginations and creativity. It can allow them also to escape from reality, which is another necessity for children when growing up.
It's All in the Perspective
Whether or not your child should be allowed to obsess over actors and actresses is all in the perspective. You can use this to your advantage as a parent and homeschool teacher. Turn it into a good thing. Help guide your child so that they can get the most out of this stage in their lives. Use it as a bonding tool as well, so that your relationship with your child can grow. Sometimes we have to try to see things from our children's point of view and give them the benefit of the doubt and a chance to just be children.
