Eight Tips for Coping with a Child Obsessed with the Twilight Series

Stephanie Meyer's Twilight series has become very popular over the past few years, and many teens and tweens have become obsessed with everything Twilight. If you are a parent whose teen or tween is obsessed with Twilight, there are some things that you can do cope with this behavior. In this article, I intend to describe eight tips for parents coping with a Twilight obsession.

Coping With Twilight Obsession Tip #1 - Determine What The Problem Is
Is your teen obsessed with the Twilight book series? The Twilight movie? A particular character? An actor or actress in the movie? Communicate with your child and find out what he or she finds so appealing about the Twilight series. It may be that he or she has a lot of posters and pictures of Robert Pattinson just because he or she finds him attractive. If all your child talks about is Twilight, then there is a definite problem. Liking the story? Okay. Referring to Twilight characters as if they were real or researching how to become a vampire? Not okay.

Coping With Twilight Obsession Tip #2 - Communicate With Your Spouse
If you suspect that your teen or tween is obsessed with Twilight, confirm your suspicions with your spouse and/or the parent of your child. Discuss what signs or behaviors you've seen that indicate a possible obsession with Twilight. Hopefully, both parents will come to the same conclusion, as this will make the next tip easier.

Coping With Twilight Obsession Tip #3 - Present A United Front
Two parents saying 'no' to a particular behavior is a lot more emphatic and much more difficult to get around than just one parent saying 'no.' Both parents should sit down with the child and explain that they are concerned that the child's interest in Twilight may have become unhealthy. Avoid verbal confrontation and stand firm.

Coping With Twilight Obsession Tip #4 - Set Limits
Some worthwhile limits to establish with a child obsessed with Twilight would be cutting off funding for Twilight-related activities and purchases as well as confiscating the books and movie for several weeks. Don't do the latter as a first resort, but let your child know that you want him or her to branch out. If you deem it necessary or potentially beneficial, then consider confiscation. Again, both parents must be on the same page for this to be effective.

Coping With Twilight Obsession Tip #5 - Encourage Other Reading
Twilight is a fantasy/romance series. If your child has not already read them, you may wish to suggest reading the Harry Potter series or the Lord of the Rings series. These are also popular fantasy series with movie adaptations, but do not have a strong romantic element. This might help your teen get away from Twilight and become less obsessed with characters such as Edward and Bella. The idea is not to focus the obsession on a different series, but rather to show your child that a lot of literature exists beyond Twilight. Remember, reading is good. Don't discourage your teen or tween from reading just because he or she has an unhealthy relationship with Twilight. Offer to buy books for your child that are not Twilight-related.

Coping With Twilight Obsession Tip #6 - Encourage New Activities
Having an obsession with a particular book or movie series, or anything for that matter, is surprisingly time-consuming. Encourage your Twilight-obsessed teen or tween to engage in new activities and offer to participate as well. Some things that you could do with your teen or tween would be to play outdoor games, to learn a new language, or to take an adult-education course in art. See what is available in your area and what interests your child. If he or she is not interested, it will do little to help.

Coping With Twilight Obsession Tip #7 - Be Supportive And Patient, Not Disparaging
Whatever you do, refrain from insulting the Twilight series. An obsessed child will take any insult very personally and may resent you for a long time, especially if he or she feels that he or she shares a special connection with Edward and Bella. Reassure your child that you want to see him or her lead his or her own life, unhindered by an unhealthy relationship to the Twilight series. It may take time for your child to get over an obsession with Twilight, so be patient. As the years pass, it is likely that such an obsession will wane regardless.

Coping With Twilight Obsession Tip #8 - Consider Counseling
If your child has a very strong obsession with Twilight to the point that he or she cannot bear to part with the books or believes the characters to be real, he or she needs professional help. Consider a counselor or child psychiatrist. Obsession can become a very serious problem.

The keys to coping with a teen obsessed with Twilight are to be patient and supportive, yet unified and firm. With time, the obsession should fade. Are you a parent that has had experience dealing with a teen obsessed with Twilight or a similar series? Feel free to share your own advice in the form of a comment. Thank you for reading!