What does your child hear? What does your child see? What does your child absorb? When your child is at home, what images does he or she see on TV, the Internet, magazine covers, books, newspapers, iTouch, DS? What do you fear most? Your child seeing images of nudity or violence? What about at friends’ houses? How about the library?
Yesterday on FaceBook, I asked parents about censorship verses monitoring + discussion. A parent who works at a library said, “You wouldn’t believe what kids (and adults) are looking at while visiting their local library. Parents who think they can shield their children from what is out there are foolish. Sooner or later, your child will see it.” If she is correct, the question then becomes, “How does your child react to images of violence, nudity, and/or the combination of both?“
As parents today, we know our kids see video games involving violence. Even if not playing them at home, we know they will observe such games at friends’ houses (or at least hear about them at school). Kids definitely talk about their games at school (how far they advanced in the game, what characters they killed in the game, etc…). What about TV & movies? How much violence can be seen in a PG-13 movie? The answer is: A lot.
What about nudity? Significant nudity typically moves a movie into a “R” rating. Have your children seen images of nudity or heard peers talking about nudity (and/or pornography)?
Which issue are you more comfortable talking about with your children? Violence or nudity? HOW do you discuss both issues? Are you careful to separate positive imagery of nudity compared to the unhealthy view of pornography? Have you ever talked to your children about seeing violence and nudity together? Have you noticed how many movies show what they call “passionate sex scenes” which involve violence and nudity? Have you explained the danger of such imagery?
Share in the COMMENTS section below your approach to discussing violence and/or nudity. By sharing, you can help other parents gain greater skills to help their children.
