Yesterday's NY Times Magazine had as its cover story Good Girl, Miranda Cosgrove, an 'It Girl' teen influencer of School of Rock fame, and now iCarly. Not all teen idols can be good role models, but Miranda seems to be doing an effective job here.
With the entertainment companies creating teen idols, and the media pushing them further into the public eye, young girls become more impressionable. I see these idol promotional materials each summer when I visit camps. Miranda seems to live her life in a way that parents, including her own, can be proud and comfortable knowing other young girls are following and trying to emulate her.
I fell in love with Miranda as the take-charge young band manager in School of Rock, even then putting females in positive and strong leadership roles (teaching young girls they are capable and can be in charge). Camps work hard in this same area; and girls camps especially focus on the issues often central to pre-adolescent girls, such as mean girl syndrome, exclusion, appropriate body image/health and self esteem.
I hope this summer when I visit camps I see more posters and magazines full of stories and role model lessons about Miranda and other 'good girls.' Parents should try to enforce this by helping their kids pack bunk decorating images that represent good role models for their kids, camp friends and bunk-mates.
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