Parenting Is Challenging Today

James Garbarino in his book, Parents Under Siege provides strong evidence documenting today’s challenges. Parents today need to worry about managing their children’s access to the Internet. Many parents have told me their 8 year old had connected with someone on a Chat Line and planned a meeting at the Mall of America. We as parents need to evaluate the seriousness of children’s TV viewing. Leaving children home at all is of concern to researchers. Now we learn some of the intrigue may be on the television. What is that private plug in tutor teaching our children? What is the language modeled? Are the relationships depicted the sort that we as parents hope for our children? What about the clothes suggested most suitable?

Parents are living with children who are the target audience for 40,000 televisions commercials per year. They are “constantly responding to children who are in league with advertisers whose main interest in them is as consumers, and who are shameless in exploiting their naiveté.”

Parents have stiff competition when it comes to modeling the core values of respect, care and character. We live in “a culture that hammers home the message that our self-worth depends on the cars we drive, the clothes we wear, and the ski resort, private island, or fun park we visit on vacation. “

During parent education seminars, I encourage parents to ask families where their children visit, if guns are available. Today we all deal with “the threat of guns and bombs being used against children and teenagers in schools and community” Parents need to manage boundaries both in the home and the neighborhood.

Children cannot be raised by remote control. They need strong parental supervision coupled with clear expectations of and responsibilities to one and another I believe it was a famous one liner in HIll Street Blues that fits. Be careful out there. That old adage continues to be true today. What has changed is the out there.