Do You Know Your Teen's Favorite Entertainment?

Because the days of "I Want to Hold Your Hand" and "Leave It to Beaver" are long gone, parents need to take an active role in finding out what entertainment picks are spinning inside their teenagers’ heads. Do you know your teen's favorites musicians? Can you list the movies and TV shows they would say are the most exciting and engaging? Do you know where they surf on the Internet?

Why not sit down with each of your teenagers and engage them in discussions about their favorite media? Don’t just ask the above questions, but go a step further and find out why.

If you’re doing this for the first time — especially with older children — refrain from jumping in and playing judge and jury. Listen, listen and listen some more. There will be a time to offer your views, but not during this exploratory stage. Aside from being a starting point for establishing media standards in your home, this exercise in discovery can offer a window to your teen’s soul that you otherwise might have missed.

Perhaps you’ll find that your teen is mature beyond his or her years and has already established some good media habits. In that case, take the opportunity to shower sincere praise and encouragement. Most likely, you’ll find a mix of good choices and varying instances of spiritual confusion or immaturity. Discussing your young person’s entertainment picks can be a great way to address these and begin gently correcting and instructing in areas of weakness.

If you find that your teen is choosing very dark entertainment, take it as a warning sign that he or she may be harboring deep pain. Often, teens like this need to have their concept of Jesus revolutionized — to know that He, more than anyone, understands suffering. That He’s loving, approachable and able to heal. And that He’s already reaching out to them — all they have to do is reach back.

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