So, I have a 9-year-old boy, and he’s pretty smart. I don’t fully grasp what about watching YouTube fascinates him. Like, the people’s over-animated reactions to video games is a bit much. Their cheat-codes are well… cheating. And the kids doing all sorts of tasting challenges is really strange to me. But the kid loves it. Like, he’d prefer to watch YouTube more than cartoons… and who’s to say which is “better”. Initially, when he started watching YouTube I had 100% nixed the idea because, well … it’s on the internet and therefore open to a bunch of crazies. I watch all internet streaming channels, BTW. Now, he’s relegated to only watching on the weekends. Then, I was struggling to wrap my head around why the kid wants to watch other people play video games that he sometimes doesn’t even own. Or, on a gaming system that we’re not going to buy. I, however, watch HGTV and DIY, which is literally other people fixing houses that I’m never going to buy, or working on projects I don’t plan on doing.
Just an interesting parenting observation… but I am quite the hypocrite.
Remember when our parents thought the Simpsons were ok to watch because they were cartoons?
I know some parents, and I was one of them, poopoo on YouTube because of possible content concerns. But, Don’t we (shouldn’t we) have the same concerns with other streaming options? Maybe we feel like a production company, network, studio execs bring legitimacy to the content our kids are watching. Ummmm, there has been utter crap produced by networks.
Just my random New Year’s thoughts…. Parents, be vigilant of ALL the content our kids are consuming. Be it on the TV, the games they’re playing, the books they’re reading… ALL of it. There is a war going on for hearts and minds. HOWEVER, your vigilance, cannot be set in its ways. The way to fight is on the front lines. The war for our children’s minds and hearts is going on in 2020, don’t allow yourself to stay stuck in 1985 or 1995 or even 2005… that’s no longer the world our children are growing up in.
Not too long ago I had to teach myself how to use all the social media platforms because I had a little girl that wanted to have her own accounts. How can I not be part of the world she was going to be in? It is what it is parents, we have to adapt, and we have to remain engaged in the things that are competing for our children’s attentions. No puedes tapar el sol con un dedo: Don’t try to cover the sun with a finger… (I don’t think that translates well). Life is changing at an unbearable speed… stay firm, stay consistent, stay true to your convictions but also, be relevant.
Happy New Year to my fellow parents out there… we had NO idea what we were getting into!