I fear that children are being robbed of their innocence everyday, so I seek to explore explanations that could explain the why and maybe encourage change.
Everyday our children are playing reckless video games, flipping through channels and catching glimpses of or watching light pornography (on commercials and television shows) and/or overhearing adult conversations; yet, we expect that they are "unaware" or "don't know" anything! Yet, we don't realize that we are implanting questions for children to seek answers to. So children Goggle searches encompass looking for answers to things that we have shown them, but that we dare not explain because we feel like they are "unaware" or "it isn't time" for them to know. So the question then becomes why are we so unaware of the fact that we are robbing them of their innocence by assuming we can show them things and not explain?
Is it that we are so disconnected, allowing our children to be raised by television or the internet, that we don't realize that keeping them innocent means moderating what they absorb. Being aware of what we put in their faces. Being mindful and open to moderating the answers to the questions in their minds. Not occupying them with trash so that we can get some "free time"! Unfortunately we assume that when we give children an iPad, laptop or iPhone that they will not explore it. These devices come with parental controls for a reason. We have to stop assuming our children won't find the answers we won't give them.
When something new is brought to our attention most often we seek to gain greater understanding. As parents, we can not assume that our children will remain innocent even when being presented with new questions and tools to help research those questions. Parents seem to be less involved, or unconcerned, meaning children turn to the internet and television for answers. When they see or hear the word kiss, the children of this generation will naturally "Google" it to figure out what it is. Just think of how many questions our children encounter each day, with consideration to the total number of hours children, nieces, nephews or grandchildren watch television or surf the web. Consider the notion that if your not answering those questions, who is?
Times have truly changed. I remember as a child I spent my time playing games outside, swimming, roller skating, playing tennis or watching movies (approved and purchased by my parents). I got electronics at the age of 11 or 12 but before that, I was more active than not. I truly had no questions regarding sex until I was exposed to it. I had no questions regarding sexuality because I was never confronted with it. Now I was also an explorer and an inquisitive child. But most of the time I spent taking things apart, trying to figure out what's inside, or how it works. Surprising that I wasn't an Engineer because that is what intrigued me most. But I also didn't have the world wide web readily available at that time. And I'm certain most of these children wouldn't know how to find their way around a library if you held their hand. Or do any type of "real research" that doesn't involve a computer.
When we know all of this, the question becomes why are we ignoring it. Why are we allowing ourselves to operate under the notion that we are NOT to blame for the lack of innocence in our children? We can't place blame on one individual, as it has to be a collective change. Even though my parents tried hard to preserve my innocence there were certain things I was exposed to, too early that were imposed on me. As a child I mimicked what I was told or shown; and unfortunately that is a part of my past that I can not erase. But I have made a decision to accept my circumstances and try to break the chains of miseducation and individuals exposing children to things too soon.
Everyday our children are playing reckless video games, flipping through channels and catching glimpses of or watching light pornography (on commercials and television shows) and/or overhearing adult conversations; yet, we expect that they are "unaware" or "don't know" anything! Yet, we don't realize that we are implanting questions for children to seek answers to. So children Goggle searches encompass looking for answers to things that we have shown them, but that we dare not explain because we feel like they are "unaware" or "it isn't time" for them to know. So the question then becomes why are we so unaware of the fact that we are robbing them of their innocence by assuming we can show them things and not explain?
Is it that we are so disconnected, allowing our children to be raised by television or the internet, that we don't realize that keeping them innocent means moderating what they absorb. Being aware of what we put in their faces. Being mindful and open to moderating the answers to the questions in their minds. Not occupying them with trash so that we can get some "free time"! Unfortunately we assume that when we give children an iPad, laptop or iPhone that they will not explore it. These devices come with parental controls for a reason. We have to stop assuming our children won't find the answers we won't give them.
When something new is brought to our attention most often we seek to gain greater understanding. As parents, we can not assume that our children will remain innocent even when being presented with new questions and tools to help research those questions. Parents seem to be less involved, or unconcerned, meaning children turn to the internet and television for answers. When they see or hear the word kiss, the children of this generation will naturally "Google" it to figure out what it is. Just think of how many questions our children encounter each day, with consideration to the total number of hours children, nieces, nephews or grandchildren watch television or surf the web. Consider the notion that if your not answering those questions, who is?
Times have truly changed. I remember as a child I spent my time playing games outside, swimming, roller skating, playing tennis or watching movies (approved and purchased by my parents). I got electronics at the age of 11 or 12 but before that, I was more active than not. I truly had no questions regarding sex until I was exposed to it. I had no questions regarding sexuality because I was never confronted with it. Now I was also an explorer and an inquisitive child. But most of the time I spent taking things apart, trying to figure out what's inside, or how it works. Surprising that I wasn't an Engineer because that is what intrigued me most. But I also didn't have the world wide web readily available at that time. And I'm certain most of these children wouldn't know how to find their way around a library if you held their hand. Or do any type of "real research" that doesn't involve a computer.
When we know all of this, the question becomes why are we ignoring it. Why are we allowing ourselves to operate under the notion that we are NOT to blame for the lack of innocence in our children? We can't place blame on one individual, as it has to be a collective change. Even though my parents tried hard to preserve my innocence there were certain things I was exposed to, too early that were imposed on me. As a child I mimicked what I was told or shown; and unfortunately that is a part of my past that I can not erase. But I have made a decision to accept my circumstances and try to break the chains of miseducation and individuals exposing children to things too soon.
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