# 242 06/14/04 Culture’s view of sexuality is not the best for children

I have been writing about the foundations our children need in the area of sexuality. First, they need to know what God’s Word says about sexual purity. Then, they need to understand how boys and girls think differently about sex. Finally, they need to know about sexually transmitted diseases. Those subjects have been addressed in previous weeks.

Next, parents need to protect their children as much as possible from the cultural view of sexuality. That statement may conjure up images of a separated, reclusive family with no television, magazines or other exposure to the culture. There are less drastic means.

What a child learns before he begins school has a tremendous impact on the rest of his life. For that reason, it is very important to restrict preschoolers’ access to television, mall advertising, movies, electronic games and peers who are bad influences. Try listening to what you hear on television as if you had a preschooler sitting with you. Imagine what she is exposed to even on the news and in ads. Do you want to have to explain Viagra to a five year old?

Substitute good wholesome family fun for television time. Play outside. Read books. Play board games. Go on nature walks. Plant a garden. Simply put, if you want to protect your child from the culture’s view of sex, get involved in doing real stuff instead of watching other people do real stuff. Too many people use electronic media for babysitters. If you do that, you are letting strangers come into your home to teach your children their values.

If you can severely restrict a child’s exposure to the culture’s view of sexuality until he is six, it will be much easier to limit his exposure after that. You will have set a pattern of behavior for your child. He will often find television boring and will prefer to be creating something, talking to friends, reading a book or playing outside. Instead of creating a craving for more electronic stimulation, you will have created a restlessness that craves more active involvement.

Next week, I will be writing about how to limit a teen or preteen’s exposure to sexual advertising, movies, games and television.