Teen Music & Media Boundaries

Teen Media And Music Boundaries

From the time my children were born, my wife and I have been very careful about what media exposure our children have had. We have been careful what TV shows, movies, video games, and music that they have had access to or been exposed to. We are also very careful what internet access they have, either via computer or cell phone, that is not both filtered and under direct supervision of an adult. The effects of exposure to inappropriate material or pornography is so great and so devastating that we felt the need to do whatever we could do to protect our children’s eyes and minds.

 

Help Your Teen Learn Discernment with Music and Media

 

There is a point to helping teens learn discernment with media, but with exposure to these things being so influential, we have chosen to teach this skill in other areas. God does not call us to toe the line between acceptable and unacceptable or to be “old enough” or “mature” enough to handle certain issues in the media. Rather, He has called us to remain godly and to guard our hearts and minds. James 1 tells us that we are not to be “polluted” by the world. Philippians 4:8 says “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.” We are to avoid subjects, words, and images in the media that are not in full alignment to the ideas of God. And we are to fill our minds with things that are going to point us toward God, not away from Him.

 

This is a message and conversation that we have often with our children as they have been growing up. I realize that not every family or parent has been teaching this level of discernment to their kids from the time they were young. It is more difficult to begin when they are teenagers. However, because teenagers are so easily influenced by the media and naturally imitate what they see with little discernment, healthy boundaries are critical and well worth the trouble and extra effort now to help them avoid dangerous and long lasting life choices. As parents you need to protect your teen’s heart and mind from harmful material and messages. As far as music goes there is Christian music in about every style of music. When it comes to video games, TV shows, movies, and internet, we as parents are responsible to not only set the appropriate standards for our teens, but more importantly to be examples ourselves of what we are putting in our own minds.

 

Additional resources that focuses on this issue include:

 

  • Plugged-In Parenting: How to Raise Media-Savvy Kids with Love, Not War by Waliszewski
  • Protecting Your Child in an X-Rated World by York and LaRue.
  • Website Pluggedin.com is a great resource to check out reviews on movies, videos, TV, music, and video games.

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