A Must-Watch Video
Worth Your Time!
Resource Recommendations to Help You Parent and Mentor Most Effectively
This Week's Recommendation:
"Childhood 2.0" Documentary
Available for FREE Here
and on Apple TV, Google Play, Facebook, YouTube, and Amazon Prime
Not My Kid!
"One of my most-hated terms is 'not my kid.' 'My kid won't do that.' 'My kid would never....' 'My kid's friends aren't like that.' 'My kid's school isn't like that.' You're wrong. Everybody's community is like that. Every school is like that. Every kid has the potential to do any one of the things that we're talking about here. Even my own kid." - Dr. Free N. Hess
Why It Matters
If you want to understand what it's like for youth growing up today and what really goes on, this is 100% worth 90 minutes of your time. In addition to experts, you will hear honest, thoughtful teens in their own words, and you'll learn what it's like in their world.
What you'll hear in this video is not just "out there" - it's in Christian schools, churches, and families too. I've heard similar stories from teachers, administrators, parents, and students themselves.
How to Use it
After you watch it, remember that it's already outdated. Many of the high school seniors and recent graduates note that the problems they discuss are now happening at even younger ages!
Notice how matter-of-fact the teens are as they share their experiences. While the content may be shocking to most adults, it's normal to them.
Listen to what the girls say about guys' requests and expectations because of what they see in porn. Adults, especially and primarily parents, need to have honest, awkward conversations about this with both girls and guys. Otherwise, their thoughts about what's good and normal are shaped largely by porn.
They mention that sexting/sending nudes is considered the new "first base," and hooking up/sending nudes very commonly happens before a relationship even begins. Besides the clear moral issues, adults need to help preteens and teens understand both the short-term and long-term ramifications of what can happen after they've sent nudes.
"Do you want that as a parent? Strangers in your child's room while you're sleeping? Would you leave the door open, with a sign that says, 'My daughter's bedroom is the second one on the left'? And then go to bed? We have traded a false sense of safety and security for actually putting our kids in riskier situations." The one consistent recommendation of nearly every youth and technology expert I've heard/read is this: no phones in preteens' and teens' bedrooms, period.
When they share statistics, remember that people typically underreport negative behaviors. Based on what I've seen working with youth, what the youth themselves share in this video about percentages is much more accurate.
If you're interested, check out other resources on the website.
One more reminder... Ongoing healthy (and sometimes awkward) conversations about hard topics are important with all preteens and teens! The world is already talking to them, teaching them, and sharing its point of view 24/7 - they need us to be part of the conversation! As someone in the video says, "If a kid isn't to the point where they're just a little bit annoyed by you going there again, then you're not doing it enough." Good advice!
Watch It for FREE Here