Parents can use celebrity mess-ups as lessons for kids
By Dipali Pathak
It's hard to avoid reading or hearing about the latest celebrity faux pas. So parents shouldn't even try – instead they can use it as an opportunity to talk with their children about making good decisions, said an expert at Baylor College of Medicine.
Youngsters can be exposed to drugs, alcohol and other unhealthy activities simply by reading about their favorite celebrity.
"Rather than avoiding the topic, parents should do their research and be sure they have their facts straight about the situation," said John Sargent, M.D., professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences and pediatrics at BCM and director of child and adolescent psychiatry at Ben Taub General Hospital. "It's important to know what your kids are being exposed to."
Initiate conversation
Since children may already be talking about the issues with friends, the first step is to talk with them about what they've heard and what they think about the situation.
"Be sure to make it an open conversation," said Sargent.
Parents should discuss their own feelings about the situation and remind their youngsters that privacy is difficult to maintain as a celebrity. There are always two sides to a story, and this can relate back to a situation the youngsters might face with gossip in their own lives.
Present other side of story
Another important point to make is that there are a number of successful celebrities who live physically and emotionally healthy lives and there are various ways for celebrities and others to get help when facing situations such as drug and alcohol abuse.
"Use these opportunities to talk about choices, behaviors and friends," said Sargent.
Just as any other type of news, parents should do their research about celebrity news and be prepared for an open conversation. Parents can use these same tips to talk to their children about world news, politics and other topics.
