I came across a post today from someone I follow about video games and more or less ripping the console out of the room or home and just getting rid of it. I am not going t get into the argument of video games themselves but the idea behind the persons posts and removing something without emphasizing that you need to replace whatever you are removing!
There is something to be said that we need to be aware and smart about what kids are allowed to have and how they are allowed to consume things. Kids today have phones and TVs and all sorts of devices that parents have no idea what is going on or what their kids are doing. However, there is a danger when you simply remove something and do not replace it with something good. This is a concept used when it comes to smoking and food so why would you ignore it here? Ripping something out and not being active in what replaces it is going to cause more damage than it is good. There are a few reasons why it will do that as well.
First, it's going to breed resentment in your kids. This is just common sense thinking that if you are taking something they enjoy and can use as an escape and you don't provide an alternative then they ARE going to resent you and it's going to put a major strain on your relationship with your kids. Second, they will find other and sometimes more damaging ways to entertain themselves then before and it may push them directly into what you tried to avoid. Remember there was no active threat that it was being used wrong just a flat get rid of it and don't look back. You remove that your kids are going to find different ways to find entertainment now and very possibly not tell you if they get into things they shouldn't because the resentment you already have festered in them.
The problem is not video games, the internet, consoles, or anything like that (though they can be a problem when misused). The problem is we have parents today that are not parents if we want to get down to the root of the problem. Parents have passed off raising kids to the school system and things like video games and social media. If parents actually acted like parents and raised their kids properly this would be a non-issue. However, here we are. Then we act like its the console or game that is the issue ignoring the real and proper problem. No wonder our kids are turning out the way they are! We have a generation being raised by completely absent parents even in our Christian homes!
Lastly let's bring it back to the main point. No matter what itis in our lives or the lives of our kids if we remove something bad, we have to replace it with something good. Family devotions, family sports, work, church activities anything like that works. At the same time use some common sense. Keep the system in your living room if need be and have designated times they can be on it if they enjoy it and you aren't going to find times or ways to spend it with them. However, to just be like I'm ripping this thing you enjoy and can make friends with on and find a little escape in this crazy world I am not helping you through is just asking for more problems than you will EVER fix. So, stop and think. If you decide its best to remove, then you better replace it as well. Just a warning to the wise that you can take or leave.
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