Before "Barbie" the Movie

Hard to recognize the lazy days of summer with so much happening. Climate change brought excessive heat that’s impossible to ignore, smoke from fires in Canada reigned down in many sections of the country, political turmoil, gun violence…

…and yet some things remain the same: Children will return to school soon and new movies will be announced with great fanfare. Below I talk about Barbie’s role before becoming a movie sensation and offer helpful back-to-school thoughts for parents of college students and toddlers who will go to college sooner than you think.

Grab yourself some lazy days!

Susan

Barbie the doll is a pop plastic icon that faced feminist scorn. Long before the movie, which I haven’t seen yet, Mattel introduced Barbie’s three new body types—petite, tall, and curvy. Although an attempt to be more inclusive, the newcomers did little to ease the pressure on and body image obsession of young girls. Lisa Damour, director of the Laurel School’s Center for Research on Girls, offers concrete suggestions for parents to help young girls struggling to grow up in a culture fixated on body image. Read more

There has been a lot of pressure on colleges to “fix” the growing student drinking problem. While colleges hold a certain amount of responsibility, parents will want to—and can—play an active role in stemming the tide. Here,?10 Precautionary Steps?parents can take, some beginning at the elementary school level, others as reminders for your son or daughter who is leaving the nest to attend college. Continue Reading

The emphasis on college acceptances and rejections can’t help but have parents of young children project to the future. Written years ago, I stand by this advice. Read more now