Television-Raised Children

Tommy ran as fast as he could to make sure he made it to the corner store before it closed; This was the only store he could get his Big Momma's cigarettes and beer without an ID. Sure the clerk knew he was only thirteen, but he let all the other under aged children in the neighborhood buy illegal stuff from his store as well.

When he got to the store and had purchased his grandmother Big Momma's items, Tommy was approached by his cousin, who was a famous hip-hop artist. He always loved to see his famous cousin and wanted to be like him. He would feel so important when his cousin would let him wear his flashy jewelry, and ride in his nice cars and trucks. He even stayed overnight at one of the hotel parties his cousin always have after his concerts. He asked his cousin when he was going to put the beef between him and another hip-hop artist to rest by murdering the other artist.

He was amazed when his cousin had told him that the beef between him and the other artist was just for showbiz, and music ratings. And that he and the other guy were actually friends outside of the studios, who would never think of hurting one another in any manner. Tommy looked at his cousin in a different light; He also looked at the people on television as entertainers and not idols.

The Youth are being taught by the television sets and other media equipment that we have in our homes; They generally spend more time watching music videos, listening to adult-contented music and playing graphic, mutilating video games; which makes them a product of these things they are being exposed to.

First off, I must justify what I mean when I say they are being taught by television. I have personally witnessed children being placed in front of some of the most graphic material I've ever seen on television or screen, to place them out of the way of their parents. Now, don't get me wrong, we had to get out of grown people's faces when we were growing up as well, but we had to go outside and find something constructive to do with our time while we were out there. We didn't come back inside the house until either dinnertime or bedtime. And those were considered by many as "The Good Ole' Days".

Today, we have the children coming home after school when they feel like it, because of arcades and corner hangouts. But when they do arrive home, near dark, they head straight for the television set-which also holds the latest video game console. We're not even going to touch the possibility of them not even having done any homework. These habits are formed from a constant tool used in place of parent participation, or attention. The parent uses this tool of complete entertainment to keep Tommy occupied, and out of the way for them to sit around with other friends, who may have children as well-but are home watching television as well, with the babysitter, or grandma.

And while we're on the subject of grandma, yes, the baby boomer! I've seen these baby boomers, creating the same scene for the children: "Shut-up, turn on that TV-sit down.....and go get Nana a beer out of the fridge.... And, SHUT UP!!" Some of the boomers who still maintain their "FREE LOVE-LIVE FREE"-Party all the time, lifestyle are definitely contributing factors to the lack of social participation and quality time spent with these children today.

These children definitely need attention, and guidance just to name a few. I cannot express enough how much it reflects off our children how we are truly raising them, when they actually think that everything they see on television is real, people!