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Remind your kids they must separate the Michael in the pool “A great way to explain this concept to your kids is to tell them that
from the Michael on dry land.American consumers are nothing if not it’s no different from running for student council at school, or joining
optimists, and no matter how many athletes and “heroes” have the Girl Scouts,” adds Johnson. “When they become a part of a bigger
disappointed us in the past, we continue to hope that the next one will organization, they immediately become a representative for that
live up to our expectations. Enter Michael Phelps. We wanted to believe organization, and it’s their responsibility to represent the organization
that the skill and maturity we saw in the pool was reflected in the well. When you take on a title, or wear a uniform, you’re making a
young man himself. The truth is Michael Phelps is a uniquely talented promise to that organization that you will represent it in a positive way.
swimmer, but his superhuman qualities are limited to the pool. On dry Through his recent actions, Phelps broke his promise to the brands he
land, he’s no better or worse than most kids his age, and we can’t really represents, the children he’s spoken to, and the U.S. Swim Team. His
be angry with him for that. actions are a great way to reiterate to your children what it means to
“The trick in a situation like this one is to help your kids to find the be trusted and what it means to have integrity.”
qualities in Phelps, or any favorite athlete, that they should emulate,” Teach them how their decisions affect other people. When we
advises Johnson. “Talk about his drive and dedication, or the fact that make mistakes, it can be easy to forget that we aren’t the only ones
he was never a quitter. Tell them it’s okay for them to look up to famous affected by the ensuing fallout. In Phelps’s case his decision had far-
athletes, so long as they don’t try to be exactly like them. Identify the reaching ramifications. Everyone from his fans, the companies that
best qualities about that person and explain to them that is who they sponsored him, his teammates and coaches to his own mother was
should try to be.” forced to endure the negative effects of the scandal. Talk to your kids
Explain that when commitments are made, things change. As a about thinking before they act, and remind them that their actions can
result of his superstar status, Michael is paid millions of dollars as the affect people outside of their inner circle.
spokesperson for big brands like Speedo, Kellogg’s, and Subway. He is “Sit down with your kids and have them make a list of all the people
also a favorite speaker at elementary schools and naturally is the most in their lives: friends, family, teachers, and coaches and explain to them
recognized face of the U.S. Swim Team. “There is nothing wrong with how their bad decisions can negatively affect the people on their list.
that,” says Johnson. “He has achieved extraordinary levels of success in Explain to your daughter that if she gets in trouble at school, her bad
his sport and he is entitled to reap the benefits that come from those choices affect more than just her. Explain that you as her parents would
accomplishments. The problem lies with the responsibility he had to be disappointed, and her teacher’s good opinion of her would be
maintain his good image and make good choices, because the brands tarnished. And if she’s grounded she wouldn’t be able to fulfill her
he represents market to adults AND children. When you endorse commitments to her soccer teammates and coaches. When they start
products that are popular with kids, no matter what your image clause to think about the broad affects their choices can have, they will be
says, you have to remember that you are presenting yourself as a role more likely to stop and think more carefully about their own actions.”
model to kids—someone they look up to and someone whose actions Explain that they may not be famous, but people are watching
they imitate. Phelps should have thought about that. them, too. As with most celebrities today, Michael Phelps has been
112 March 2009 |
www.siparent.com
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