Kids and Society

I am supposing that every parent, and many adults who don’t have children, have ideas about how children should be “raised.” Suffice it to say that anyone who had been through that process knows that rearing children is practically a full time job. Having reared my sons a long time ago, I am well aware that “things” have changed. I never had to worry about many of the issues that are so prevalent in today’s environment. There continues to be an assortment of folks who are confident that when it comes to this job (child rearing), they are the authority. And perhaps they are right. Here for example is one group’s thinking –

CHICAGO (AP) — The American Academy of Pediatrics has new advice many kids will find hard to swallow: It wants limits on tweeting, texting and other social media.The influential group says smartphones and laptops should stay out of children’s bedrooms. And it says kids should spend no more than two hours daily on Facebook, Twitter, and other Internet entertainment sites. The doctors’ new policy says unrestricted media use can have serious consequences. It’s been linked with violence, cyberbullying, school woes, obesity, lack of sleep and other problems.

Two hours daily? Really? I can remember when we tried to limit TV to less than a couple of hours. Of course my question is – what can one find to do on Facebook for two hours?

I like to imagine you would be disappointed if I did not give you the benefit of my “wise” counsel. So, here it is:

All kids should spend no less than an hour a day involved in Bible reading, prayer, family worship and activities related to Spiritual matters, and no less than an additional four hours a week (say, three hours on Sunday and one hour on Wednesday) involved at Church with a Godly Youth Group, and/or corporate Worship and activities associated therewith. Be aware, such activities have been linked to happy families, success at school, peaceful sleep, better health, and an almost total lack of problems requiring interaction with the local Police Department.

Hey, it’s just my opinion. However, I am confident it is supported by a lot of underlying data. It certainly won’t hurt to give it a try.