You walk into their bedroom—the television is on, their headphones are in their ears, or they're staring at the computer screen. You try to start up some kind of conversation and their response is, "Yeah, yeah...as soon as I'm done with this."
We have such a media-craved, media-controlled society that it has diverted attention away from interaction and personal relationships with parents and friends.
In addition, they are also receiving much of their philosophy of life through music, television, and movies.
The question is, "How much is too much?" It's probably unrealistic to think your young person will actually shut the television off and never turn it back on. But where should parents draw the line?
How can you draw the line in a way that is palatable to everyone and makes sense to your young person?
How does watching television affect families? It can disrupt communication among family members and negate socialization skills. Perspective is lost if kids are watching television shows alone with no parental input or discussion.
Take Control
What is a parent to do? Be very aware of how much television your young person is watching, whether it is in their room, at a friend's house, or in the living room of your own home. Find out what is being fed into their heart and mind.
Also be aware of what programs they are watching—not just their names, but what they are about. Remember, what your teen watches instills values into them, shaping them for their present and future life. It will either depress or inspire them, motivate or discourage them.
Take control of the influences affecting your young person. Do this very diplomatically, because up to this point they have had the run of the show.
They could flip the channels as much as they wanted, going through the cable and satellite channels at their own discretion. If all of a sudden you come down hard and say, "No more TV!" or "You can only watch the news," they may very well react negatively.
You are going to have to show them your desire for an increased relationship with them. Let them know you desire to do more family activities together—to go out and actually experience adventure rather than just watch it.
The statistic stated earlier that most young people would rather spend time with their family—if their family is willing.
Is their leisure/extracurricular time being flushed down the drain by the television, or are you designing character-building/relationship-building activities to enrich your family? When your young person reflects back on their growing-up years, what will they remember doing most with their leisure time?
Will they remember staring blankly into the television for hours on end, or will they remember a series of things you implemented to help them grow and develop?
No Vile Thing
Decide what programs and/or movies you want to watch together. Sit down as a family and talk about what is right or wrong in the program. Talk about why it is right or wrong.
Use these opportunities to instill character and teach lessons, as opposed to just sitting in front of the television and vegging out.
Think of how much television you watch and how absorbed you get. Monitor your own TV-watching habits. Do you sit there and respond, "Yes, Dear," or "No, Dear," to your teen without really listening?
Are you asking your young person to quit watching so much television, yet you are absorbed in it yourself?
Psalm 101:3 says, "I will set before my eyes no vile thing." Don't let anything that is going to corrupt you, distract you, or pull you away from God enter your heart or mind.
Think about that on behalf of your young person. Have we let the media become a surrogate parent?
Do we wonder, "How could my young person actually think or act like that? Where did they get that attitude from?" when all the while we have let the television come into our living room and kidnap their hearts and minds?
Let's be the parents God wants us to be by actively helping to shape the perspective of our young people as they develop into young adults.
Excerpt permission granted by Albury Publishing