Sunshine Coast parents and carers who wonder if their children are growing up too quickly and are worried about self-image and confidence are invited to a free presentation at Matthew Flinders Anglican College on Tuesday, 17 July at 6:00pm.
Flinders principal Stuart Meade encouraged parents and carers of students in Years 4 to 12 to hear from respected Sydney author, speaker and youth advocate Melinda Tankard Reist who will share her enlightening 75-minute presentation, ‘Too Much, Too Young’.
Leading child psychologist and author of Raising Girls and Raising Boys Steve Biddulph describes Melinda as “…probably the world’s best presenter on the damage advertisers and pornography do to our children and teens - often when we don’t even know. Her highly visual presentations will knock your socks off. You will be left angry in the very best way and be so much better equipped to talk to, and protect, your kids.”
The presentation explores the impact of hypersexualized messages from media and popular culture on our children and young people.
Presented as part of the Flinders Speakers Series, the talk is open to all parents and carers on the Sunshine Coast to encourage partnerships between school, home and the community to learn positive ways to support and guide our young people to enjoy healthy lives and schooling journeys.
Principal Stuart Meade said knowledge was power and the College hoped that after hearing the presentation parents would feel better prepared to connect with their children and provide the support they needed in challenging times.
Drawing from current global literature on the subject, Melinda will explore with parents and friends how the proliferation of sexualised images and messages contributes to a distorted view of bodies, relationships and sexuality, hampering their children’s healthy physical, emotional and social development.
“The lives of young people are increasingly socialised, conditioned and informed by porn-related content online. They are exposed to this content often before their first kiss, with 11 years being the average age of first exposure,” says Melinda.
“In this pornified landscape, young people are ‘acting out’ through social media, putting their bodies on display for attention and judgement.”
The powerful 75-minute presentation will explore how we can address this toxic culture and raise happy, healthy and resilient kids.
TESTIMONIALS ABOUT MELINDA TANKARD REIST
“Melinda Tankard Reist has a simple message which is powerfully delivered. With her prodigious intellect, sand blasted sense of humour and immaculate research she puts a much-needed spotlight on the erosion of childhood, the pornification of our environment and the commodification of young people... Intelligent, passionate, brilliant, fearless… I could not recommend her more highly” - Dr Michael Carr-Gregg, Adolescent Psychologist
“Melinda is probably the world’s best presenter on the damage advertisers and pornography do to our children and teens - often when we don’t even know. Her highly visual presentations will knock your socks off. You will be left angry in the very best way and be so much better equipped to talk to, and protect, your kids.” – Steve Biddulph AM, Author Raising Girls and Raising Boys
“I hesitantly went to Melinda’s talk about children being sexualised in the media thinking it was going to be a sensationalist attempt to make me feel bad as a parent. During her introduction, I realised it was the best 50 steps I took from the car to the auditorium and, 90 minutes later, I had quantifiable evidence and authentic strategies to help educate my children against the normalisation of women and girls as sexual objects in the media.” – Heather Douglas, parent
HOSTED BY MATTHEW FLINDERS ANGLICAN COLLEGE
FLINDERS SPEAKER SERIES
Proudly supported by Flinders Parents & Friends Association
For parents and carers of students Years 4 to Year 12
Tuesday, 17 July 2018
6:00pm (for a 6:15pm start) to 7:30pm
FREE EVENT
LOCATION
Flinders Performance Centre
