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My wife and I like books and movies, and as our children have grown up, we've enjoyed introducing them to our favorites. We've raised them on regular doses of C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, and other contemporary authors, as well as lives of the saints, Bible stories, and classics of children's literature. We've shared our enthusiasm for various movies (being a runner, I'm a great fan of Chariots of Fire).
In our experience, reading and viewing together are far more than fun family activities. Exposing children to the works of writers, producers, and directors who use their talents to entertain and upbuild can support parents’ efforts to teach sound morals and a love of excellence. By providing a basis for comparison, it can also have the “inoculating” effect of helping kids to develop discernment about movies and books that fall short.
But we, too, need discernment for navigating the minefield of today’s media offerings. Without it, we risk becoming permissive parents who let their kids watch or read anything and just try to help them deal with the issues that arise. Or, at the other extreme, we become paranoid parents who allow their kids little or no media exposure—and little opportunity for learning how to judge media productions for themselves.…
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