Where has my little girl gone? (Book Review)

I have been reading a very interesting book recently called 'Where has my little girl gone' written by Tanith Carey. The book was written as a guide to parents to help them protect their daughters from the early sexualisation which they are exposed to from a young age. It is a problem which i have long been aware of, much before i decided to settle down with a husband and children myself. The book is split into short and very readable sections with lots and lots of 'What you can do' headings.

It discusses the societal pressure for girls to become adults way before their time and the problems that this causes, but its main focus is how to deal with the problem. The media, internet, tv, music videos, advertising and peer pressure are all bombarding our children with the message that they need to act and look a certain way to be accepted, to fit in, and to be successful. Girls are encouraged to dress provocatively, use make-up, and to stay thin. Even primary school girls think they need to be sexy.

Children are influenced by marketing from just 18 months of age when they can recognise logos. They don't have the discrimination to pick and choose what is right or better for them - up to the age of seven children will not question an advertisement and will accept everything the marketers want them to believe. They see TV commercials, billboards in the street, music videos, marketing messages on mobile phones, and adverts and videos pop up on websites. An estimated 350 million pounds was spent in 2009 on advertising to children alone according to a mothers union investigation into kids and consumerism.

What Tanith Carey suggests is that we need to instill self esteem into our daughters to prevent them from feeling that they need to conform to how the marketers want them to be. Our children need to have a strong vision of who they are and what they can achieve. The book tells us how we can make our children into confident individuals who can make their own choices.

Although the book is aimed at mothers and their daughters, much of the advice applies to raising boys as well. Little D is only 2 years old but i already follow some of her advise and plan to incorporate more of it into my parenting when the time comes.

I genuinely think that every parent of a child (boy or girl) who is around 4 years old or older should read this book. It is very well researched, and very clear, approachable and helpful. I can imagine myself lending this book out time and time again. It encourages us not to think 'Theres nothing i can do about it' to thinking that we can overcome the advertisers and raise confident and socially aware human beings who don't connect materialism, vanity and sexual attractiveness to happiness.

* I was given a free copy of this book from the author after i approached her and offered to review the book as it is written on a subject which i find very interesting. My review is an honest evaluation of the book.