Join in with your kids electronics. Play games with them. Get into their world. Understand them. This provides more opportunities for you to teach boundaries, limit setting, and accountability. You’ll have more opportunities to learn who they are and build trust. There is a body of evidence that suggests increased exposure to violent content increases aggressive thoughts and behaviors. If that is true, then increased exposure to pro-social content increases pro-social thoughts and behavior, and research supports that. The good news is that not all media content is violent.
Additionally, we are complex beings. Children are exposed to so many social influences including television, radio, friends, family, church, etc. Not all of it is violent or bad. All of these influences impact a child’s thoughts and decisions. Why not use their interests as a way to assist in shaping their morals and beliefs? Learn to trust your children. When it comes to their free time and their decision making, telling them what they can and cannot do suggests to them that they aren’t trusted. With the exception of chores, responsibilities, obligations, and safety concerns, allow them opportunities to have control of their free time and prove to you that you have taught them well.
Show them trust and they may surprise you. Computers and electronics are an increasingly important part of the lives of youth. We, as a society, are becoming increasingly dependent upon it. There really is a generational gap. Adults generally do not understand what all the fuss is about. They don’t have to. The important piece is helping children navigate and understand their world, spending time getting to know them, and teaching them how to be safe in an ever complex and changing world. We cannot stop the world from changing or control the way it changes. We can adapt and evolve with it while teaching our children to do the same.
Throughout history, there is evidence that an item or idea originally feared can be adapted into our day to day lives. We have been given a new opportunity to grow, teach, and evolve. Since we can’t beat the changes – let’s join them and teach children to do the same.