Family

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As Christian parents we all have the same goal, to raise godly children that love the Lord. How do we do that when the TV gets in the way? No matter how you decide to handle TV shows your children watch, there can be extremes that can be detrimental to the parent-child relationship which is something that needs to be intact so that there is a communicational link. If you shut the child out over television, they may get angry and not feel they can come to you over anything.

So, how then do I suggest you might handle those inappropriate shows that your child is interested in? Be understanding, but not lax. Some shows shouldn't be allowed, but in order to do this you need to reach an understanding with the child. Obviously if the problem is with a four year old wanting to watch the purple dinosaur and you don't like it, is completely different from your teenager going and watching some of the graphically explicit shows on prime time or violent cartoons. Both are handled differently.

For the four-year-old substitution would be the best way about avoiding the shows you don't like. Say you don't like the purple dinosaur but you do like the blue dog, tape the blue dog and play it while purple dinosaur is on, or buy some videos you do approve of. *

Now for the teen watching the explicit shows, there has to be communication going on. Hopefully before time there has been a conversation regarding how Christians should put emphasis on things that are good, and things that bring glory to God. This should actually be a life style. When trying to get your teen not to watch the shows, explain that violence isn't healthy and also that we don't need to see graphically disturbing images. Now, I know even shows that are usually family friendly, can have some episodes that tend to get excessively violent or a little too realistical.

Television shows are fantasies, although many are based on reality. This is something I strongly emphasis to my own children. Deciding what is appropriate for your children should be based on your child and your family. It doesn't matter if the cartoon came from Japan or the U.S., both can have some very family friendly or excessively extreme language, violence, or innuendo. How our children handle it is up to us, the parents. We must also remember that we are our children's example If we tell them they can't watch something then we shouldn't either. That would be hypocritical.

*There is nothing morally wrong with the purple dinosaur, some parents and other adults don't think it is healthy the way he encourages children to 'pretend' live is sweet and fun, even if it isn't.

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