PARENTING April 21, 2008 Issue

HOW CAN PRAYER PROTECT KIDS FROM VIOLENCE IN THE MEDIA?

KITTIE BURRIS

NEWS REPORTS about violence committed against young people or by them seem to be a daily occurrence. It's a global problem that has many people speculating about the root causes. Although it would be unfairly biased to put the entire burden on the media, the influence of violence in entertainment is nevertheless a real concern. It's difficult to avoid the premise that a steady diet of movies and games with violent elements—now also increasingly available on the Internet—can have the effect of desensitizing young people.

It seems one of the big challenges is the length of time children spend watching television on a daily basis. The University of Michigan Health System reports that "on average kids spend nearly four hours a day watching television, DVDs, and videos. Sixty-eight percent of 8to 18-year-olds have a TV in their bedroom." And a University of Maine Extension "Family Issues Facts" newsletter states: "Children are imitators, and those who watch violent shows are more likely to display aggressive behavior. They are more likely to 'strike out at playmates, argue, and disobey authority' according to the American Psychological Association Help Center."

So, what's a parent to do? Is the answer to turn off the television? Create more activities for our children? Or, at the very least, take responsibility for the kind of programming our children watch? It's a start. And there are ways to do this—from setting up parental controls on the Internet and television, to gathering tips from websites, such as the University of Maine Extension's, that provide alternative activities to TV-watching for children.

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