Prodigal: I’ve had a lot of screen time….I am switching to this to communication.
Me: I’m completely on board with that….lol
This is from the book Growing up Social by Gary Chapman and Arlene Pellicane
There are general guidelines for deciding what content is appropriate for your child to watch.
- What factual data is my child learning from this program? If there is factual data, is it correct? You want you child’s mind to be filled with truth. If the program communicates a distorted vision of reality instead of how life works in the real world, you don’t want your child watching. You want your child to be exposed to things that are real and not a distortion of reality.
- What kind of character traits is this program seeking to build in my child? Is the main character someone I want my child to copy? If the humor comes from cutting others down, being rude, or showing disrespect to authority, that’s a red light. Positive programs will teach your child to care for others, work hard, resolve conflict, or overcome obstacles.
- How does this program treat family members? Television sitcoms often degrade men and fathers by making them lazy, fat, or stupid. What messages will your child hear about men, women, marriage, and parents? How is the family represented?
- Is this program consistent with our family values? A child is running into all sorts of values during his or her early years. You can’t control what your child sees outside at school or other places, but you can control what he or she is exposed to at home. What is viewed on screens should be in keeping with your family values, or it should be off limits.
And the woman said to Elijah, Now by this I know that thou art a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in thy mouth is truth. 1 Kings 17:14 (KJV)
Jennifer Van Allen
www.theprodigalpig.com
www.faithincounseling.org
