As a Christian parent do you know what kind of entertainment your kids are watching, reading and listening to?
I've been researching the entertainment geared toward teens and am shocked at how many parents don't follow what their kids are into.
Books. Teen Fiction has evolved so much from when I was a teenager. I LIVED on Sweet Valley High, the Babysitters Club and the occasional Sci-Fi book.All these series had morals, didnt involve death and sex and main characters with no moral compass.
Teen Fiction now...Twilight, the Hunger Games, Harry Potter...all popular series with themes of witchcraft, vampires, death, hatred, sex and with heroes who really have nothing to offer than an exciting read.
Teen Movies/TV nowadays are loaded with sex, teen pregnancy, glamorize cheating, drugs, getting drunk, etc. It glamorizes homosexuality and makes teens feel like a horrible person if they are against pre-marital sex and homosexuality.
TV shows like Gossip Girl, One Tree Hill and 90210 glamorize teen sex and make it seem normal and if youre not having sex as a teen then you are a prude.
Music today is loaded with so much sex its insane. Katy Perry in her song Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.) glamorizes a weekend of being so trashed and wasted she barely even remembers what happened and plans to do it all again the next weekend. Lady Gaga pushes the theme of being gay and that you cant help it, you were just Born This Way. Usher and pretty much every other male hip-hop artist out there sings about cheap sex, getting wasted, partying and one night stands.
As a parent you should be concerned about what is going into your teens head. It is unrealistic to tell them to NOT listen to, read or watch this kind of thing but its your job to talk with them about it.
Your kids may not be allowed to listen, read, or watch this kind of stuff at your house but what about at school, or with friends, or even on their iPods?
Teaching your kids to make smart choices rather than ordering them what to and not to listen/read/watch will earn more respect than just ordering them to not have that entertainment and it will also push them toward wanting it.
Teach your kids the important of honoring God in what they choose to be entertained by will go a lot further than just telling them NO.
Check out christianmediamonitor.com for great reviews of pop culture.
Replies
I am far more worried about what my kids post online then what they read or watch on tv.Witchcraft, vampires and the like are not real and my kids know it's just entertainment.
Warn of REAL dangers in life. Like that teacher that touches too much.