Parenting is hard enough without the added issues caused by technology. Did you know that the average person touches their phone 2,617 times per day? That's about 18,000 times per week or a million times in a year. There is nothing in our history that has had that kind presence in our lives. As parents, we need to be informed to help our children navigate life in a way that honors the God who has come to give us a quality of life that is greater than anything this world offers.
Twenty years ago, cell phones were hardly existent. Now we are raising children who have never known a time when they did not exist.
Here are some short articles to help you be equipped:
- Psychology Today talking about teens and sexting, something 71% of teenage girls have done.
- An app that teens use to hide inappropriate pictures on their phone. It looks like a calculator, but behind it are pictures they do not want you to see. Be aware.
- A secular article on the long-term effects of pornography on young minds. This is a regular reality in conversations we have with teenagers.
- A short article on sexual behavior of teenagers. This is written by Jonathan McKee who will be speaking at Eagle in the spring and then leading a free seminar in The Loft called Parenting the Smartphone Generation.
Reading these things and discussing with others is a great way to process them. Talk with your spouse, your LifeGroup, your friends. Plan to also have honest conversations with your kids about anything that stood out to you. I can promise you that if you are not talking to your kids about sexuality, they are learning it from media and peers, which means they are not learning God’s plans for their sexuality. Go beyond telling them what is right and wrong, but instead engage them, ask questions, and help them understand why these things are things they do not want in their lives.
In these things, do not be overwhelmed. John 16:33 records Jesus saying, In the world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.
Jesus is here to guide us, strengthen us, and give us grace. Praying for you as you continue the fight.