What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know that within the context of silly,
preteen humor, main characters face normal adolescent
challenges: How do I fit in? Will my friends like me if I'm
different? How do I get her/him to notice me? Girls and boys
talk about each other in the context of romantic relationships,
dating, and kissing, but no sex. Tweens will certainly notice
the glitz and glamour of the pop princess, but her actual
appeal is how she faces everyday challenges in this dynamic
part of development.
Families can talk about Hannah's fear that her peers will react differently to her when they find out she's a celebrity. How can we be true to ourselves and also feel like we're fitting in and part of a peer group? Parents can also talk about giving respect to others, including how the characters talk about and react to other girls and boys, romantically and as friends. Additionally, parents can discuss the unrealistic image of a young girl having seemingly endless access to clothes and accessories.
Common Sense Media Review
Miley Stewart (Miley Cyrus) is a 14-year-old trying to live
a normal life as a regular kid. She has fallen for a boy in
class, works hard for good grades, and has a best friend with
whom she shares her deepest secret: that she's also pop star
Hannah Montana.
Hannah is as big a star as Hilary Duff, so Miley, convinced that her peers will treat her differently if they know who she is, decides to keep her stardom a secret. In the meantime, she tolerates the haughtiness of the popular girls, stumbles over her words while talking to a boy, and shares giggles with her best friend, Lilly (Emily Osment) -- all the while donning a blond wig and performing around the world. Her widowed dad, Robbie (country star Billy Ray Cyrus, Miley Cyrus's real-life father), doubles as her manager and confidante in many of her tween challenges.
Miley/Hannah, her older brother Jackson (Jason Earles), and Robbie moved to Southern California from Tennessee because of her secret star power. Judging by their beach house in Malibu, the volume of stylish clothes in Miley's closet, and the fact that her father is always at home and available to lend support, she's clearly a success.
Hannah Montana is from the producers of That's So Raven; obviously, Disney knows how to style a show (attractive kids, popular jargon) to appeal to female tweens. While the main characters are all white, there's the usual sprinkling of girls and boys of color to round out the supporting cast.
Because of its mild romantic innuendos, this series isn't a good fit for the youngest viewers. Miley/Hannah lives the dream life of a pop star, but it's her relatable problems during school and everyday social life that make her so likable. Miley doesn't want to give up either of her worlds, and she manages (unrealistically) to keep them separate though many humorous close-calls.
Kids who like this show may also enjoy That's So Raven, Scout's Safari, and Darcy's Wild Life.
Common Sense Media is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing information to help parents make media and entertainment choices for their families.
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