Why is my daughter obsessed with Hilary Duff?

Question

We don't even have the Disney Channel, haven't had it for a few years, and she will just talk about this girl all the time and won't listen to any music if it's not Hilary Duff and says any girl song I play (that she likes) is a Hilary Duff song. She'll be 7 soon.

She's been obsessed since we DID have Disney Channel when she was four. But yes, just checking to make sure it's not something else.

My dears, I play other music ALL the time. She hates it.

I hate to say, but I think she is one of those people who think anyone blonde is pretty.... Had the same problem when I was her age, and I'm afraid of it for her...

Answer 1

I wouldn't worry about it. Hilary Duff is one of those good girls of Hollywood who has maintained a clean image. (To sanguis, I don't believe for a minute that Hilary is heading down the path to destruction and shedding this image.)

Look at what the likes of Britney Spears, Lindsay Lohan and Paris Hilton have been doing in the recent past. One has two children, and has been targeted for ineffective parenting, and recently shaved her head in a bizarre attempt to get attention, and the other two have been to jail, rehab or both for driving under the influence. Who would you rather have as your daughter's role model? Hilary has managed to keep her head above water and avoided these vices. Why else would she name her sophomore album "Dignity?"

If anything, I'd say your child is making good choices in celebrity role model. You need to encourage and embrace this.

Answer 2

Hillary Duff started out as a Disney Channel star on TV shows on that channel and in movies by Walt Disney. Hillary Duff was a good role model when she was contracted with Disney, which is how her singing career got off because most Disney Channel stars become singers on Disney w/ Albums, etc.

Since then, she has lost tremendous weight and has starting wearing more inappropriate excessive clothing for at least the younger audiences.

Your daughter is probably looking at the old Hillary Duff, which is an okay role model. The phase will pass eventually, kinda like when your children likes Barney, etc.

Answer 3

Hilary used to be a Disney Channel star admired by many kids around the world. Now she is a little outdated by Ashley Tisdale and Vanessa Anne Hudgens. She might try to make a trend by trying to bring back Hilary Duff. Or she might bring back the memories of when she was younger. Why not introduce her to other singers besides Hilary Duff.

Answer 4

Well i've had experiences where children mostly 6 7 and maybe 8 yr old girls have an obsession with hilary duff and want to look and sound just like her, she'll soon grow out of it!

Answer 5

It's just a phase, people (even if they're only 6 or 7) keep searching for role models and are trying to imitate those who they like. now it's Hillary Duff tomorrow it will be someone else, you can't stop it. You just have to show her (indirectly) that there are other people in the world who are even cooler, smarter and more amazing than Hillary Duff. But for now I think just let her have fun, like you said, she's only 6.

Answer 6

Right now its Hillary Duff and some day soon you will wish you were back to Hillary. Its just the first of a long line of "puppy love" . Girls like Hillarys songs -they seem grown up to 7 year olds. But way too soon she will move on to other singers maybe not so wholesome - so let her enjoy it.

And when Hillary messes up -you can use her as an example of how a good young girl can mess up!! You can use the show as a lead in to a talk about growing up, sex, drugs, alcohol - when Hillary messes up use that as a way to start talking with your daughter about the hard things (but necessary) to talk about.

Answer 7

She is most probably trying to set a trend or she just really like Hilary Duff . My sister is obsessed with Scooby Doo , she won't watch anything else. She loves dogs . It's kinda difficult , with her for ever watching a DVD of Scooby Doo . We go through at least 2 DVDs of Scooby Doo in 3 months .

Answer 8

There are much worse stars your daughter could idolize. At least Hillary Duff has a clean image.

Answer 9

she's being taught by the media what's cool. what's hot. what's in, what's not. she needs an alternative and your guidance. if you don't step up your child will be raised by the media. at this stage you still have say so over the information that she is receiving. communicate with her and let her know that she doesn't live in a fish bowl, expand her world, so that she can see more than a Hilary.

Answer 10

With the path Hilary is heading down (clubs, drinking, drug use) she's probably not the best role model for a 7 year old. She has definitely shed her squeaky clean image.

In Psychology Today, writer Carlin Flora suggests that America's fascination with celebrity is a symptom of a larger cultural obsession with the three A's - affluence, attractiveness and achievement. Celebrities seem to embody all of these.

Affluence, attractiveness and achievement are understandably desirable, and certainly not inherently harmful, but fixation on these can sometimes divert individuals, especially young people, from other values, such as community, charity and commitment.

Flora quotes psychologist James Houran, who says that in a secular society the "need for ritualized worship can be displaced onto celebrities."

"Nonreligious people tend to be more interested in celebrity culture," Houran says. "For them, celebrity fills some of the same roles the church fills for believers, like the desire to fit into a community of people with shared values."

If you want your children to grow up with an understanding that looks aren't everything, you can't buy happiness, and we are more than the sum of our achievements and failures, then they will need critical thinking skills. Educators and psychologists say these skills will help children deconstruct the mixed messages they get from celebrity-crazed media.