The Blog Of Dysfunction

Paris, Britney, Lindsay & Nicole: They seem to be everywhere and they may not be wearing underwear. Tweens adore them and teens envy them. But are we raising a generation of ‘prosti-tots’?

One thing is not in doubt: a lot of parents are wondering about the effect our racy popular culture may have on their kids and the women they would like their girls to become. The answers are likely to lie in yet another question: where do our children learn values?

But researchers say one of the strongest predictors of early intercourse is the impression—real or imagined—that everybody else is doing it

Twelve- to 14-year-olds are probably the most vulnerable to stars’ influence. “Clearly it is at this age for girls that they are trying to find an identity to associate with,”

And as much as we hate to admit it, we grown-ups are complicit. We’re uncomfortable when kids worship these girls, yet we also love US magazine; we can’t get enough of YouTube videos or “E! True Hollywood Stories.” So rather than wring our hands over an increase in 17-year-olds getting breast implants, what if we just said no?

Taken from Girls Gone Bad

Every one agrees that these days newspapers and TV channels are filled with “morally degenerate” ads and programs.

I have seen two distinct reactions to the proliferation of such “bad” stuff. On one hand is a group of parents who realize that some thing needs to be done or they will have hurt their children and on the other extreme are many parents who seem to think that because of the regular bible teaching that the brethren assemblies offer and strong family system the children will be and are unaffected. The latter group need to wake up, if you see any of that type, shake them real hard.

The commonest way in which the first group reacts is by switching off the tv or not allowing the children to read magazines, which is a good thing to do, but unfortunately if all your intervention is just policing, you are making a far worse mistake than doing nothing at all.

The children of today do not understand the language of authoritarianism like perhaps the parents of today did. They have been taught to ask questions they have been told they have a right to know and that all their lives the law and society will uphold this right.

If you switch off the TV with just a superficial “you should not be watching dirty stuff like this” or “this is not good for children of god to watch” you are putting them in a quandary that usually resolves by them surreptitiously finding ways to watch all they want. Parents who think that by switching off the TV or not buying one they are protecting their children are being at best very naive at worst very stupid.

Today the media is everywhere, short of shutting a child up in a room 24×7, there is no good way of keeping them away from it. What parents need to do is that before they switch off the TV and even before they start watching, teach the children why some things are acceptable and some things are not. Not by a simple “because dad says so” but by reason and the scripture and very importantly by example.

If you don’t allow your children to watch TV but you do so yourself in their absence you are perpetuating double standards, and that is a sure shot formula for bring up very confused, rebellious and vulnerable children.

In short, what is schizo’s advice and opinion?

• Wakeup, its the 21st century, your children are no longer angelic and pure.
• You cannot protect them from the bad effects of the media by trying to shut off access to the media
• It’s not just boys who need help, girls do too.
• Children need role models, be one.
• Preach about teaching children from the pulpits.
• Have premarital counseling for those getting married.
• Realize that pure authoritarianism is counterproductive.
• Pray
• Invest time and energy in ministries working among children
• Demand quality from those you trust to teach your children, in church, camps and other places.
• Develop teaching material that is relevent to the cultural situation
• Keep up with the times, read books, newspapers and christian blogs etc. that give good commentry about current issues
• If you have the gift of communication, use it for teaching and creatig awareness about these issues.
• Don’t shun sex education.
• Pray more.

Ciao

Schizo