I promise not to get bad dreams...
Momma was careful not to let us watch scary movies. But when King Kong came on our black & white TV one night, I couldn’t resist. I proudly proclaimed that I was now old enough, and assured her I was not going to get bad dreams. Unfortunately she believed me. So I watched, riveted to the tiny screen as giant Kong roared and the tiny lady screamed. And in my bed that night I really tried not, but woke up screaming in terror myself at the images playing in my head. Though I was ten years old Momma finally had to sing me a lullaby to get my mind to quiet down till I could think of something else!
It was then I realized for myself how vulnerable our minds are to the power of suggestion.
TV was only black and white back then, and the programs milder. Today with the myriad of images and thoughts bombarding our kids each day it’s easy to see why they might have trouble sleeping, ADHD, OCD, less self control and a host of other problems worse than we had back then.
How can we help our kids process input, analyze and deal with the fears and bad thoughts that come to them? How can we control the onslaught to their impressionable minds?
First: TURN OFF (the TV) or electronic media that’s putting the bad stuff in. Then: TURN ON (Real Life) by doing positive things that help them feel empowered to control and impact their environment.
And then: TUNE IN (to what’s playing in your head, too). Watch and listen.
If you don’t like what you find there, ‘Change the channel’ by putting something good in it’s place. Nice music. Happy thoughts. You’re in charge now. Don’t let the TV be the boss of you.
And by all means don’t listen to your kids if they say they are ‘old enough’!
I’m still not old enough to watch some of the things on TV today!
Thanks for paying attention to what's in YOUR head,
PS - There are gazillion things to do besides TV and video games. Make something with your hands, draw a picture, paint, build something, clean up the mess after your creative explorations, learn to play an instrument, cook, stare at the clouds, read, pet the cat, watch the plants grow, etc...
Tell me some of your ideas. I'll add them to my list! Email me!
By the way - Are you on Facebook? Check out the story on our page about the little boy who was inspired by my art textbook to draw an award winning picture for a soldier and gave it to him this Veteran's Day!
