Tuesday, May 22, 2007 Talk back: Children, media and the pope’s message By May Madarang Colina
I ATTENDED a forum on children and media at the CCTN studio last 20, 2007.
This was made possible after I wrote an article about the need for parents to guide their children in watching cartoons, or being wary of television programs.
The article was published in Sun.Star Cebu last May 16, 2007.
Fr. Dadie Silva invited me to the forum because the article I wrote was timely because of Pope Benedict’s message on children and the media.
The pope wants media and the people to work hand in hand so children will acquire good values and learn positive things from what they see, hear or read from the media.
Among the panelists in that forum were parents, teachers, an events coordinator, an advertising executive and the dean of Arts and Sciences of the University of San Jose-Recoletos.
We talked about the effects of media, particularly certain TV programs, on kids.
I believe that in the end it is us parents who will give the last word, we are the boss and we should not let media nor the kids have control over us.
I agree with Father Silva's sermon in a GMA channel mass that we cannot escape media for it is everywhere.
Thus, the best thing we can do is to be vigilant and to know the shows our kids watch.
It would be much better if we watch TV programs with our kids, even if these are cartoons.
Parental guidance should be imposed in every household.
Busy parents should take time to spend quality time with kids.
Perhaps its easy for me to say that since I am a housewife but I'm sure many will agree with me when I say that the most important thing in this world aside from God are the children.
They are the future.
People and the media should work together in providing good programs by presenting shows, as well as TV commercials, with values.
This is not an easy job because TV shows won’t survive without advertisements or sponsors.
Thus, we parents should intervene.
We can't stop bad media in the blink of an eye; we have to work for it and do our job in guiding the children and correct them if they are wrong in interpreting what they watched.
Let us be straightforward but pleasant in explaining the meaning of the actions they saw on television.
However, let us not forget that our children deserve our respect too.
Let us make our kids feel we are their best friends so that they talk to us about anything.
Let us not instill fear in them by telling them not to watch certain TV shows and threatening them with punishment.
Let us explain and show to them the difference between good and bad.
And let us show good example by starting it within ourselves.
