IN the article last week, the goal was to highlight the extent to which the media in general has in influencing the bringing up of children in today`s world.
The effect is likened to the influence parents exert over their own sons and daughters. It is even more amplified in cases where actual parental guidance is absent.
Our chief quest in this article today is to suggest some practical ways of setting the media agenda for our children and we shall also seek to explore how we can effectively parent in the face of negative elements of the media.
If you are an ardent follower of this column, you will probably find it rhetoric that from time to time and in diverse ways, we have and we shall continue to allude to the fact that the foundation is key to lasting formation, that is, the foundation of any edifice will determine the strength and course thereof.
This is why we cannot help, but pay particular attention to the formative stages of our children`s lives.
We need to set out an agenda with regard to the media that they will follow and that which will guide them to the desired safe place in this journey called life.
We also need to be quick to revisit the foundations should we notice any cracks, flaws or weaknesses in the pedestal of the parenting structure, say we built upon ideals that we have come to learn are fragile and are void of depth we need to unashamedly undo then re-do things correctly.
It is probably most effective to set a media agenda for children when they are still small, at which time parents need to make most decisions for them as to what information is good for them, what TV programmes to watch, what music they are to listen to and what to do on the net.
You do not let them scroll the channels and watch anything that appeals to them.
At this stage you will need to even lock-out certain cable TV channels.
As children grow older, it might be important to consider winning them over by educating them as to why you do not agree with certain ideologies advanced and highlighting the damaging after-effects of certain concepts in movies, music and so forth.
For example, you are watching a movie and a scene that amplifies profanity is viewed. As a parent do you just keep quite? No!
You ought to speak out against it and show your displeasure, otherwise your little boys and girls will take it as if it`s fine by you if you do not.
However, it should be stressed that for this to work effectively there should be mutual respect and trust in the parent-child relationship.
Parents may be required to actually participate in their children’s media world.
Get to watch their type of movie together once in a while, listen to some of the staff they are listening to on their gadgets so you can position yourself to competently advise and offer guidance.
The other equally important things parents need to do in regard to raising children that win against bad media influences is to beat themselves in line to conform to the values they wish to see their children embrace or simply to walk the talk.
It is a paradox to have a parent bring home a weird DVD yet expects and actually tells his little boys not to watch…what do you think is going on in the boys’ mind? …Curiosity is just heightened.
The concepts advanced thus far sound idealistic. Yes they are good on paper, but things do not always turn out this way yet again if we apply the right techniques there is hope things will turn out right rather than doing absolutely nothing, hence, it is strongly suggested that coming up with alternatives to bad media is key to prevailing in this war.
This is done by helping your child make good media choices regarding the music they listen to and the movies they watch as opposed to merely condemning bad media.
It may sound repetitive but our children need to be under-guarded in prayer.
By praying we register our total dependence on God trusting that he will guide both the parents and the children alike into paths of righteousness.
(The Writer is a parent and Sunday school teacher. For comments and suggestions email: tendakamba@yahoo.com, mobile 0962 843443)