Just exactly what does constitute a deprived childhood? It doesn’t have to involve living in poverty!

Katie Holmes, perhaps best known for her role as Joey in Dawson’s Creek, is far removed from the girl-next-door with natural good looks that she portrayed in the TV series, and who she has said was a caricature of herself. Part of a celebrity super-couple with husband Tom Cruise, she has courted controversy, first with regard to her membership of ‘The Church of Scientology’ which she joined shortly after she started dating Cruise, & more recently, with regard to her upbringing of their daughter Suri.

Suri, aged only three, has frequently been seen and photographed out and about choosing and wearing make-up & sporting high heels, as well as designer clothes, jewellery & handbags. Now, of course, lots of three year olds love dressing up and copying their mums, but Suri’s wardrobe is reputedly worth more than £2 million and Katie has responded to criticism by saying that Suri is allowed to wear what she wants and choose her own clothes! Her father has commented on her mature sense of fashion! Walking round the house in her mum’s high heels is one thing, but indulging their daughter by allowing her to have her own high heels to go out in is surely neglectful of her developing body!

Whilst her parents may be able to give her everything that money can buy, money can’t buy everything! In ‘adultifying’ and sexualising Suri they risk depriving her of her innocence and natural development, exposing her to predators, and teaching her that her worth lies in her outward appearance. From an early age she is being presented with a very materialistic, as well as unrealistic, outlook on life.

Children need the safety of boundaries and to learn that it’s not always possible to do and have what they want. Letting them make the decisions places a responsibility on them that they aren’t capable of dealing with, all of which can leave them ill equipped to cope with life.

Whatever one feels about the eccentricities surrounding Michael Jackson, his determination to protect his children from the spotlight seemed well intentioned, and contrasts markedly with the stance taken by Holmes and Cruise. Styles of parenting vary and each individual that results is unique, with a whole complex set of influences.

It will be interesting to see how Suri develops in the years to come!