Although times are changing the good values of life stay the same. With the murder rate amongst the youth being at a high, one would think that the values that were put in place from generation to generation have indeed changed. As young men across America relate to modern times by criminalizing themselves and many young teenage girls find that being promiscuous will get them anything that they want without earning the right---it has come to the attention of many, that the value system that was put in place many years ago, aren't the same values that the youth of the contemporary world are being taught.
Some people place the blame on babies having babies, while others feel that the media is molding such a destructive mind set for the youth. While community leaders say that it takes a village to raise a child, simply if that is the case would you say that we all have a responsibility? Who is it that should take the blame for the ill manners of the youth today? Does it start at home, to be refined in school and positively re-directed in the community with the neighbors, business owners and community organizations? Or is all of the responsibility to be placed on the parents of each child? Instead of playing the blame game wouldn't you say that we all have a responsibility?
How would you feel if your neighbor watched and video taped your child being murdered by the hands of other young men/neighbors in the community such as what happened to young 16 year old Derrion Albert in the Fenger high school neighborhood right here in Chicago? Or what about the young teens who walk around spray painting on business store fronts, with out a care in the world as to how the business owner feels and how the community looks---would you say that this all stems from the effect of the youth feeling disconnected to the community in a whole? And let's not forget about the young men and women playing hooky to hide from the responsibility of getting an education right there in your neighbors home, wouldn't you as a parent want to know? While many look at the results of negative behaviors that the youth are dealing with on a physical, emotional and academic level, many have failed to look at the real cause of why the youth are under performing on all levels. While children nation wide are becoming more accustomed to the negative lyrics of music and the s*xual & violent content of television and movies, these seem to be the only thoughts that flood the minds of the youth everyday based upon what they are subjected to.
According to many leaders around our country who are not only talking about the problems of our youth but as well assisting in the rescue, this very moment in time, right now is the time for absolute change, before things get any worst. In a survey that was conducted by staff of Bon-Chic Productions, who's motto is "Creating A New World Through Positive Media," children between the ages of 7-18 feel that the media shapes their world. They want to be like the people on TV and the radio.
Major studies show that murder, violence, promiscuity and a lack of respect has been the direct results of what the youth are being exposed through modern media. Just recently in a conversation with a young women who grew up in the late 70's early 80's, she mentioned that one of her favorite programs as a young girl was the Brady Bunch. She remembers that the Brady Bunch's lead characters as mother and father getting in bed together as being something major to the children of the 80's, it was probably one of the most vivid forms of a women and man making out that was revealed to children during this time in media. She adds "Because of the level of respect that was shown through the media it helped shape the world around us and helped to re-assure that the values and morals that mom and dad were teaching at home were right." "I believe that the media today has taken the youth away from the basic moral of respect and values and is very confusing for the youth who don't fully understand what is right and what is wrong." This young lady wants to remain anonymous but is fine with anyone who reads this article to understanding that she has three PhD's one in Education, one in Child Psychology and another in Economics and continues to pave the way to build a brighter future for the youth hands on and behind the scenes. As I sat in awe in an interview with this wise soul she gave me a list of ways that according to her studies would get the youth back on track and back to the basics. The list goes as follows:
1. Help your child to believe in their self by encouraging them, speaking positive to them and communication with them
2. Parental love is the key, however oneness with the presence of God in meditation and prayer.
3. Allow your child/a child to understand that the thoughts that they keep and the words that they speak create the world around them.
4. Explain to your child/a child the importance of morals and values. Whether we know it or not, many people have never grew up with the privilege of learning in their own homes morals and values.
5. Teach your child/a child the importance of setting goals
6. Shut down the television and video games in your home, set a time limit based on the amount of time that you feel is appropriate for your child to watch TV or play video games and monitor the programs that they can watch. According to the wise one who is giving me this information, her children are only allowed to watch television on the weekends.
7. Allow your child to understand the importance of reading and getting out to enjoy nature.
8. Each week spend family time out with the children, it doesn't have to cost money, take them to the park, a museum, to the zoo, etc.
9. Make sure that your child is involved in an extracurricular activity after school.
10. Make sure that your child has home work on the daily basis from school that will allow for their brains to always be stimulated.
11. Monitor the company that they keep and always meet the parents of your child's friends.
12. Communicate with your neighbors, their teachers and the business owners in the community and allow your child to see you communicate with them out of respect
13. Reward your child when he/she has earned the right with good grades, well done chores and accomplishments
14. Always allow your child to know the importance of education and how it plays a major role in helping the world to became a better place
For more information on teaching the youth to move back to the basics log on to:
http://www.nccd-crc.org/nccd/about/award-p... http://http://www.chicagoadventuretherapy.... http://http://www.gnmagazine.org/issues/gn...
Posted By: Talibah Bakhit
Thursday, May 13th 2010 at 1:36PM
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