Reading Reflection

The fourth article I choose to read was called Setting Family Standards for Entertainment by Carla Dalton.
I was really surprised with these readings. I thought they were going to just be a bunch of random articles about technology, but they were church articles related to the media and the Internet. All of these articles were full of important things. One of the most important things I found was in Elder Ballard's article Let Our Voices Be Heard. He was so straight forward when he was talking about the media and how destructive it can be, but I also like how he emphasized the good things that come from the media and the Internet. Something else that I thought was important was when they said that the computer needs to be in "high- traffic areas of the home." I do not feel that it is very smart at all to allow children or teenagers to have computers in their bedrooms. A good place for a computer is in the kitchen or living room; just some place where there is always someone walking through. Another important factor is to sit down as a family and set family media and Internet standards. Talking about our beliefs when it comes to media and Internet are essential. Talking about these things can really eliminate confusion and/or question about what we believe is okay.
My husband and I have already talked about how we are going to monitor our children's media and Internet use. Our children will not have computers or TV's in their bedrooms. Their TV use will be limited along with their computer use. Especially with the Internet, we plan on teaching our children that it is a great tool and can be very useful but just getting on the Internet just to "play" around can lead to trouble. I know that more technology issues will come up the longer we are parents, but right now I feel these are the most important.
I believe that one of the best ways to have a positive influence on family and friends and through example. If I talk about never seeing PG-13 movies and then I go and see one, I am being a hypocrite. If I say I am not going to do something, then I shouldn't do it. We are always being watched, whether it be our family, friends, or our own children. I know I want to set the best example for my children as possible. I want them to know that their mother and father follow the standards of the church. This is something that is very important to me.