Living Space

How to Combat The Media’s Influence On Our Children

This is not your typical parenting article that shares 搒urvival tips? or the best DVD抯 and activities to fight boredom. Rather, I抦 going to share practical principles and techniques for raising spiritually, mentally and emotionally healthy children. The neat thing is that you have complete control over the effectiveness of the techniques, they cost you nothing, and you can test them out in the comfort of your own home. Sound good? Then, keep reading.

Did you know that the U.S. media landscape is dominated by a core group of giant corporations that, through a history of mergers and acquisitions, have gained control over much of what we see, hear and read? In many cases these giant companies are integrated, manufacturing everything from books, movies, music and more.

Listen to this, the Columbia Journalism Review reports that the same company that owns and controls the programming for 揗TV?and 揃ET? is also responsible for 揘ickelodeon? 揘ick Jr.? and 揘oggin? (Source: Columbia Journalism Review, http://www.cjr.org)

Think about it. A popular trend has emerged, where the music careers of young stars are launched on Disney Channel and Nickelodeon. The songs and videos usually start out innocently enough. Then what happens? We see them transition to MTV, where the songs become a little more risqu?and the lyrics become a lot less innocent. By then, however, our children have already fallen in love with these young stars. So, what can you do?

Does this mean that you should ban all of your children抯 favorite television shows? No. I抦 not suggesting that you toss the television out the window, although that may be a good idea. Instead, I want to provoke you to consider how important it is to be prayerful, diligent and informed in order to shield your children from negative influences that can harm their spiritual, mental and emotional well-being.

Here are a few ways you can become more involved in their daily activities. When your children are viewing certain programs, take time to watch. You may be surprised at the types of things you see. As you observe, ask yourself, 揥hat is being depicted in this cartoon or movie? What are the characters wearing, saying and doing??Sometimes sexual innuendo, rebellion against authority, and other inappropriate behavior is being portrayed. These subtle, yet unhealthy influences send subliminal messages to your children and mold their subconscious mind.

If a movie is rated PG-13, even if it抯 animated and has received rave reviews from the critics, still ask yourself 插s this appropriate for my child??Think about it. Animated movies gross millions of dollars at the box office, because children抯 entertainment is big business. The goal now is to entertain both the parents and the children; as a result, the children are influenced by sexually explicit content, vulgarity, profanity and violence, all cloaked as 揺ntertainment that抯 fun for the whole family.?/p>

Remember, everything planted inside your children is a seed, and seeds grow, whether bad or good. Children are like sponges, soaking up everything around them. As a parent, you act as the sanitizing agent, filtering out anything that will defile and harm them. Don抰 be afraid to turn the television off, or ban particular programs from being viewed in your home. These decisions are not always easy or popular, but they are necessary to protect the innocence of your children.

Be warned. Family and friends will not always smile upon your decision to sterilize your children抯 environment. You will sometimes be perceived as 搊verly protective?and 揳 little over the top.? I know it抯 no fun to be viewed as a prude, and few parents enjoy being labeled 搒trict,?but if you go the extra mile to provide your children with discipline and boundaries, you will build Godly character in them that will pay off in the long run. You must make the decision that Joshua made and declare that, 揂s for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.?(Joshua 24:15)

Think about this. You don抰 have a long time to remain the primary influence in your children抯 lives. Pretty soon, they抣l leave home. This is when they抣l depend on what you taught them in their formative years to make the right decisions. Do you really want television shows, video games and pop culture icons to be the strongest influences on their choices?

God chose you specifically as the steward over your precious children. Remain prayerful, submitted, and open to God抯 will. Trust Him, and He will equip you with all the necessary tools to raise Holy, happy and healthy kids. 插n all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.?(Proverbs 3:6)

?2007 Hobbs Ministries. All rights reserved.