This is not your typical parenting article
that shares “survival tips,” or the best DVD’s and activities to fight boredom.
Rather, I’m 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
Listen to this, the Columbia Journalism Review reports that the
same company that owns and controls the programming for “MTV” and “BET,” is
also responsible for “Nickelodeon,” “Nick Jr.”, and “Noggin.” (Source:
Think about it. A popular trend has emerged, where the music
careers of young stars are launched on the 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 risqué 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’s
favorite television shows? No. I’m 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, “What 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’s animated and has received rave reviews from the critics, still ask
yourself, “Is this appropriate for my
child?” Think about it. Animated movies gross millions of dollars at the
box office, because children’s 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 “entertainment that’s fun for the whole family.”
Remember, everything planted inside
your child 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’t
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’s environment.
You will sometimes be perceived as “overly
protective” and “a little over the
top.” I know it’s no fun to be viewed as a prude, and few parents enjoy
being labeled “strict,” 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, “As for me and my
house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15).
Think about this: You don’t have a
long time to remain the primary influence in your children’s lives. Pretty
soon, they’ll leave home. This is when they’ll 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’s will. Trust Him, and He will equip you with all the necessary tools to
raise holy, happy and healthy kids. “In
all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths” (Proverbs
3:6).
D.