If your child is about to leave for school and it is raining, what do you do? Do you send her out without a rain coat? Or do you wrap him in so much protective clothing he can’t move?
Neither, of course. You give your child just what is needed for protection and to keep him dry.
Likewise, parents must find a balanced way to protect their family from destructive influences. Some parents do too little; others are too restrictive. How do you strike a balance?
Extremes are ineffective. They can cause more problems than they solve.
HOW TO COUNTERACT BAD INFORMATION
Parents need to be ready to counter bad advice or wrong counsel that may be taught to their children at school, in the entertainment medium, or by their friends and peers.
To do this, parents need to know the instruction their children are receiving.
So parents have homework, too! Your homework is to talk with your kids and find out what they are learning. Look over their assignments. Review their test results. Talk to their teachers and offer to help.
THE DANGERS OF PEER PRESSURE
Youngsters are susceptible to peer pressure and may feel overwhelmed by a desire to please and impress their friends. It is important to choose good friends -– but youngsters don’t always choose well. They need their parents to help them.
Teach your children from an early age to have respect for people who are honest, kind, generous and energetic.
Do you know who your children’s friends are? Encourage them to invite their friends to come over so you can meet them. If you are not pleased with your children’s choices, help them to find new friends in wholesome environments.
HOW CAN I PROTECT MY CHILDREN?
There are many areas in which our children need protection. We have listed just a few in this article.
The important point is to stay involved as parents. Do not be too permissive, yet do not be overly restrictive. Neither position will have positive results.
By keeping a free flow of communication between parent and child, and involving yourself in your child’s decision making process, you can protect your children.
