Walt Mueller is the founder and President of the Center for Parent/Youth Understanding and has been working with young people and families for 31 years. As a result of his work with CPYU, Walt has become an internationally-recognized speaker and author on contemporary youth culture. He has written extensively on youth culture and family issues and is the author of many books.
I had the privilege of spending many hours this past weekend with Walt Mueller. Two years ago my church booked Walt Mueller to come speak to our community. As a member of the Student and Family Ministry Committee, we work with middle school and high school students and their families. We recognize the need for parents to try and understand today’s youth culture. Listening to Walt’s presentations this weekend made me realize just how different it is for kids growing up today. One of the differences he noted; for those of us who grew up in the 60’s and 70’s, there was a more universal standard of what was “right” and “wrong.” Then media in the 80’s became more “feeling” focused. Today the media leads us to believe everyone decides for themselves what is “right” and what is “wrong.” Kind of scary to think about. Kids today are bombarded with marketing messages through various forms of media from the time they are infants. Our kids are not equipped to accurately interpret the messages they are receiving. We as parents need to take an active role in being informed of what our kids are watching on t.v., what they read, and listen to their music. Another interesting point: Did you know that many other countries require “Media Literacy” as a course requirement in school. Other countries educate their children about the media. They give them tools and information to help them process and filter through maketing messages and the various forms of media today. When kids are not given the knowledge or information to help them process the thousands of messages they receive daily, they easily buy into what they hear, see and read. Left on their own, kids will try to understand their world by themselves or with the help of their friends. Have you noticed that marketers are trying to get our children to grow up and be mature beyond their years? The media can be extremely powerful.
Here are Some Tips to Help You and Your Children Navigate Through Youth Culture Today
- Educate yourself on today’s Youth Culture. Go to the CPYU web-site above and look for resources.
- Watch for Parenting Education presentations in your community. Our church partnered with our local school district to bring Walt Mueller in to speak. Our school district has a Parent Engagement Network that offers a variety of educational opportunities on parenting and children, several times a month. Does your community offer education/resources for parents?
- Become aware of what your kid’s are watching on t.v. Sit down and watch it with them. Ask them questions. Do they believe what they see? Why do they enjoy that show? What do they think of the characters/actors? The behavior of those characters/actors? If there is something you see that is wrong or does not reflect the values you want to instill in your kids, talk about it. Be sure to point out the good as well as the bad (ie not just the bad.) Engage in a conversation with them. If you do not approve of a show, the content or the language, explain why (if it is not obvious to them.)
- Ask your kids about what they are reading. This can be books and/or magazines. Pick it up and read some of it. If you have the time, read the whole thing. Talk about the book/magazine with them. They may be glad that you are interested and want to share with you. Reading what they read can help you understand their world and give you the opportunity to help them process it.
- Listen to their music. Especially to the words. One of the advantages of the internet, you can almost always find the lyrics to songs. Again engage in conversation about it. Kids may not understand the meaning of a song. They just like the tune.
After this weekend, I have a new awareness of youth culture with plenty more to learn. As a single parent, I know the above tips may sound overwhelming. Our lives are busy. My hope is that you will check out the CPYU website. Become more aware of the impact the media is having on your kids. Begin taking steps to understand youth culture today and helping your kids naviagate through their world. The world today is a much different place than it was when you grew up. Do you really want them to buy into what the media tells them to believe and value?
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