In the mentally-malleable phase of childhood, exposing a child to various things is easy...
In the mentally-malleable phase of childhood, exposing a child to various things is easy. Depending on these things, the information absorbed by the child may cause positive or adverse effects on their mental well-being. To prevent adverse effects on their well-being, you should reduce your child's exposure to violence and engage in child therapy if they have been influenced. One famous method parents worldwide use is screening media before allowing their children to see it. This media includes cartoons, movies, viral videos, and pictures. It's crucial that you serve as the buffer between them and the world so you may filter out violence. Similarly, you can read reviews online about the media you want to show them. This method is helpful if you don't have the time to screen the media. It means you are relying on the moral compass of the watchers to give excellent reviews. Since friends are a significant part of mental development and influence, it's essential that you learn about your child's friends. Understand them and their backgrounds so you may take specific measures if you notice they have violent tendencies.
Read on to learn how to reduce your child's exposure to violence:
Screening media for your child is vital as it will allow you to pick the best things for them to watch. You will ensure you filter out the media with violent occurrences. Doing this can help you reduce your child's exposure to violence. Since violence is the main factor guiding your screening, you can first eliminate studios known for violent media from your list. Stick to family-friendly studios as they would have a great selection of movies for you to choose from. After that, search for movies with educational content so your child can learn while getting entertained. If the media include messages about non-violence, that's a plus, and you should get that. Also, ensure that the media you pick do not have any form of verbal assault. Even if there is no physical assault, a verbal assault can still cause developmental problems for kids because they will believe it is customary to insult other people.
Understandably, your free time to screen media for your kid may be smaller than your child's time to watch media. Hence, to reduce your child's exposure to violence without having time to screen media, you can resort to reading reviews. The first and most important review of a movie is the self-acclaimed rating of the movie. A movie or cartoon rated R18 is not for kids, and R13 is not for kids below 13. Once you understand these ratings, it will be easy to immediately do away with certain media. You can now delve into review websites to find detailed reviews from other parents and general movie watchers. If you can filter the review to mentions of violence, that would be amazing as it would allow you to find out the violent content in the media quickly. Besides online reviews, you can engage in offline reviews to find out the reactions of those who have seen the media. If you are in any parents' groups, you should be able to see someone who has and is willing to give you a helpful review.
Knowing who your child moves with can help determine their possible tendencies. Generally, if a person moves with peace-loving people, they will also love peace. And if they move with violent persons, they will easily accommodate violence. To reduce your child's exposure to violence, you should know their friends, explore their interests, and stop any risky friendships. You can start this process easily by inviting their friends over for dinner. During dinner, be sure to converse with your child's friends a lot. However, ensure you don't seem like you are prying into their affairs. Subtly ask questions about their views on violence and be sure to take mental notes. If they turn out to be violent, you need to have an honest conversation with your child. Don't force them to stop being friends. Instead, explain the consequences of being caught up in a fight or arrested by the police for an altercation their friend caused.
Peer pressure is a leading cause of bad behavior in children. They may engage in risky behaviors such as smoking, fighting, and drinking because of peer pressure. Therefore, if you desire to reduce your child's exposure to peer pressure, you should teach them how to fight peer pressure. The first thing you may need to teach them is contentment. Often, children are influenced by peers because they are not content with the happiness in their lives. You have to teach your kids to be content every time, as this will deter those that want to influence them negatively. Similarly, you should teach them to set boundaries and sternly say "No." Most peers that seek to influence will continue to do so when the child is not serious about their rejection. However, if your child answers firmly, they will understand that they have no chance of convincing them. Teach your child to stick to their friends with similar values, as this will prevent them from being caught up in a web of pressure from people with different values.
Telling children about concepts and constantly repeating the same message in various stories can be a great way to teach. To reduce your child's exposure to violence, you should try to increase your number of teachings about peace. You can input these teachings into various daily stories to tell them, enabling them to keep peace at their mind's forefront. Also, tell them about the benefits of peace in your life and other people's lives. You may also tell them about the consequences for violent people. Let them understand that violent people will be legally punished by the government and morally punished by people due to their violent streaks. Moreover, you should be an ambassador of peace in your household. This way, you will be a beacon, teaching them about patience and showing them how it is done. With your example, it will be easier for them to practice peace.
When you reduce your child's exposure to violence, you will have a child with positive and stable mental well-being. You can give your child support in this situation by screening media before your child watches them, reading media reviews, knowing their friends, teaching them how to fight peer pressure, and educating them about peace.
https://www.nbc.com/global/pages/tv-ratings
https://homeword.com/articles/get-to-know-your-childs-friends/#.YuelPqQo80E
https://www.verywellfamily.com/violence-in-the-media-621159
https://www.fcps.edu/student-wellness-tips/peer-pressure
https://www.naeyc.org/resources/pubs/tyc/aug2020/pillars-peace
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor, and owner of Overcomers Counseling. I'm dedicated to helping individuals find strength and healing through life’s challenges. With a deep understanding of mental health and years of professional experience, I specialize in fostering hope and resilience while equipping her clients with tools to thrive. Passionate about empowering others, she creates a safe, supportive space where everyone feels seen, valued, and capable of overcoming obstacles on their path to well-being.
Help your child by providing support and guidance, using positive language, highlighting the progress they have made, breaking down the challenge into smaller steps, and motivating them with positive affirmations.
