Pop music's too sexy for our kids

See Rihanna's sexy new video for her new song California King Bed.

Lady Gaga in the video clip for her track Telephone. Source: news.com.au

Mum Amanda Jarvis says she talks to her daughter Jaye, 9, about how her pop idols dress. Picture: Tricia Watkinson Source: The Advertiser

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CHILDREN as young as five are mimicking the provocative behaviour of scantily clad pop stars, a study shows.

Research by University of South Australia academic Lesley-Anne Ey found that raunch culture is rampant among children, who are learning to pout and thrust by watching music videos. Paris Hilton releases her new song called "Drunk Text"

She found direct links between what children watch on television and how they dress and behave.

Ms Ey's study recorded the types of clothing worn by 366 reception to year 7 students to their primary school disco.

At the discos, she found junior primary school children were also dancing "exotically" in an attempt to copy their music idols - including Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus and Kylie Minogue.

Ms Ey viewed 402 music videos over a four-month period and found more than 50 per cent - including clips by Lady Gaga and Beyonce - contained raunchy content.

Australian Council on Children and the Media president Elizabeth Handsley said she was not surprised by the findings. "Some parents do feel that they don't have any power," she said.

"We would really like parents to have the courage of their convictions to say no to outfits that they don't see as appropriate, and to be aware of the possibility of long term damage of their children's self-esteem if they buy into a sexualised image of themselves."

South Australian Association of School Parents Club president Jenice Zerna said it was important for parents to be aware and talk to their children about their bodies.

"It is one of those things that you've got to be on top of," she said.

"We want them (children) to enjoy being that little six-year-old or eight-year-old girl without thinking that they're 15 - let them be the age they are and relish it themselves."

Parent Amanda Jarvis said her child Jaye, 9, looked up to singers Katy Perry, Kylie Minogue and Taylor Swift.

"We do talk at home about the way things are: that it's just a performance and it's not the way you would normally dress when you go out," she said.

Ms Jarvis said she always made sure her daughter's clothing was age-appropriate.

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