Head-in-Sand Syndrome

One of my passions in life is to help parents and caregivers understand the depths of the dangers and temptations that are facing today's young people, primarily in the form of online media and social networking. It seems that nearly every day there are new ways to connect, new ways to chronicle your daily happenings, and myriad ways of sharing that with people you know (and don't know!). How in the world does one keep up with all of these changes? Well the short answer is that you probably won't. BUT I bet the kids in your life will be! They know the latest apps and the latest fads because they are "natives" to that world. Those of us who are older are "just visiting" or "foreigners" in that world--we're still trying to learn the language and learn how to navigate.

Do you know what the biggest danger in this new world is? Ignorance. Hence my title, "Head-in-Sand Syndrome." Parents and caregivers, please please please make sure you are keeping yourself educated. I'm not talking about becoming experts on everything that's out there, but at least take the time to make yourself aware of some of the latest trends in tech and online activity. And especially make sure that you're making regular checks of your child's devices. Anything that connects to the Internet has the potential to connect with the world, and with that comes a lot of "open doors" into areas where children and young people should not be traveling.

So where do you start? How about this article on the "7 Dangerous Apps That Parents Need to Know About." Another great site is Focus on the Family's PluggedIn.com. They review movies, TV shows, video games, and music...all from a Christian and biblical worldview. The Digital Kids Initiative is another great online resource that provides up-to-date info about all the cultural trends that are bombarding today's youth.

Bottom line? Don't bury your head in the sand hoping that the issues with technology will go away. We are in a culture where just the opposite is happening, and our responsibility as adults is HUGE! We need to protect our kids. We need to educate our kids (and ourselves). And we need to be wise as serpents and gentle as doves in this ever-changing culture.

The Ratings Game

It's probably safe to say that under many Christmas trees this year will be gifts of video games. Parents, are you aware of the ratings system that is placed on each game that is created?  You can visit this site, the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB), to get a complete description of what each rating means and determine if the games your child has requested are appropriate for their age and maturity.

As a reminder, these ratings are put in place by a non-Christian culture, so if a video game is rated "T" for teen or "M" for mature, keep in mind that's a secular view point. As a Christian parent, you may have stricter standards for what you will allow your child to ingest.  Two Christian-run sites you may find helpful as you make informed decisions about what you will purchase are Guide2Games and PluggedIn. They have game reviews and details, by Christians for Christians.

In light of the recent tragedy in Newtown, CT, violence is a very real part of the world we live in, and I'm a firm believer in making sure that we're not perpetuating that violence in our children through the video games they play.