Welcome to the 30 Days of Summer – Go-To Guide for Moms!
Day Twelve
America’s children are avid consumers of movies, music and video games. But sometimes their entertainment choices may not be appropriate for them. How is a parent to make sure that the latest hit movie, hot video game or chart-busting album is right for their child?
The summer months provide freedom to get out and explore, especially for older kids. I can remember my kids venturing out for the first time to go to a movie with friends. It can be a great way to help your kids spend time together connecting and to find independence. Kids also enjoying spending time buying their own products, which can be difficult if you do not set up boundaries regarding those. We’ve had to set expectations on what they can purchase, listen to and watch over the years – obviously changing with the maturity level.
Music and entertainment is confusing and overwhelming – but there is some help for parents to navigate it and make sense of it all. June is actually Entertainment Ratings and Labeling Awareness Month, which is one good reason to cover this topic. Not only is it good for summer months, but certainly is a topic for awareness all through the year. The non-stop blare of inappropriate phrases, images, lyrics and influence needs to be at the top of a parents radar!
The Coalition of Entertainment Retail Trade Associations (CERTA), an umbrella group for movie theatres, video and video game stores and music retailers, encourages parents to take a few simple steps to ensure that entertainment is appropriate for their family:
First, look for the advisory
All video games and most motion pictures carry a rating. Complementing the rating is a “content descriptor” that explains why the game or movie got the rating that it did. Music that contains explicit content displays a “parental advisory” sticker on the album cover or an “explicit” warning in the online download catalogue. Use these advisories to make sure the video game, movie or music is appropriate for your child.
View/Listen to It
Second, watch movies, listen to music, and play video games with your children. (Sure, it may not always be easy or even welcomed, but it is important to make the effort.) Talk to your children. Make sure they understand what the ratings and labeling are about, and what they can learn from them. Over the years we’ve managed to discuss a lot of topics that we otherwise maybe would have avoided all together, but since it was in popular culture and my kids would have been exposed regardless, we had to talk about it.
Third, set appropriate limits
Like any form of entertainment, music, movies and video games should not be permitted to interfere with schoolwork, exercise and other important activities. You also have time limits set up so that screen time and music do not become consuming. Our kids know what they can and cannot purchase, what is allowed in our home and what is not. It can be a fine line for us, since we are a blended family. We do not have control over what happens at the other parents’ house, which can be frustrating. But we choose to take seriously what happens on our watch and pray for the rest!
Parental Controls!
Finally, check out the parental controls on your gaming system as well as your computer. You can set the console so that Mature-and Adult Only-rated video games will not play on the system. Installing software on your computer to keep everyone safe is a parent-must-to!
Entertainment can educate, amuse, inspire and challenge. There are movies, video games and music for every age group and interest, but not every choice is right for every audience. Using these guidelines, parents can make sure that their choices are the right ones for their family.
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