The world we live in is determined to make our kids grow up faster than they are supposed to. There are many forces threatening the minds of our children.
Growing up used to be FUN, before the era of smart phones and social media. Those were the good old days. The world as we knew it has changed. The media and its baggage are forcing our children to grow up quickly. These kids are being introduced to all manners and levels of inappropriate content in all forms it is worrisome.
Our beloved internet is both a blessing and a curse which makes censoring a herculean task. How much can you censor your children on the internet? Even if you block certain apps on your kids devices, it is hard to do much when there are pop up ads of toys, viral hits, trends, profanity and soft porn embedded in lyrics, music videos, games, animations, memes, pictures, gifs and what have you.
Taking all of these into consideration, here are a few tips to address most of the parental control concerns;
• Multichoice’sDSTV and GOTV (which are basically the biggest cable providers in Nigeria) have put certain measures in place as regards the parental control of their channels. The problem is most parents do not know how to use these features. The fact is most movies rated G or PG are not exactly foul free. Mindful parents should key into Multichoice’s parental control features and start taking control of their kids’ television consumptionfrom today.
• For online streaming channels like Netflix and Youtube, control content with VidAngel- a filtering system for streaming family-friendly online movies. You can now enjoy the movies with your kids without the bad words, sex and violence. All you have to do is visit the VidAngel web site, pick a movie, use the parental guide to decide which words and scenes to remove, and then play the movie shikena!
• Ensure all computers and televisions are placed in common areas like the living room rather than the bedroom. It is easier to monitor what your kids are up to online if they are not stuck behind closed doors.
• There is also the issue of different parenting styles and how other kids can influence yours. No matter how mindful you are at home, your kids will interact with others from school in which case you will not be there to watch what they listen to or see. Make it your duty to engage parents in your children’s circle, talk to them about the kids and methods of raising them. Share tips and tricks amongst your circle.
• Make it a habit to sit with your children. Watch what they watch as nothing is safe anymore even seemingly harmless cartoons might contain inappropriate content. Read the books they read. Play the games that interest them. Talk to them about what they see and how it is portrayed. Educate them on what is right for them age wise. Check your children’s playlist from time to time, engage them in conversations.
Above all, check yourself as parents. Children learn first by watching their parents. You must set the stage in your home for healthy media consumption; your kids will naturally follow.
If you found this useful, you can do your bit by SHARING this post to other parents. Remember that sharing is caring.
