Entertainment and Your Kids

Even without conducting scientific studies and surveys, we have all come to recognize the influence of media, particularly entertainment, on our lives. What's more troubling is that extreme violence and overtly sexual content are quite prevalent in television and movies today and some have grown quite complacent about it. But make no mistake, kids are indeed more receptive to this influence, owing to their age and impressionability. But there are some ways for you and your family to combat the negative effects of entertainment and steer your young ones from unsuitable programs.

First option: censorship. The parental control feature in computers and televisions was installed for very good purpose-use it. There is no reason for you to exercise some parental will and prevent your children from seeing programs and websites that should be viewed by adults only. Charity is not the only value that begins at home, so does having the sense to know what is appropriate or not. The moment we let our kids take total control on what they see, we give them the message that we really don't care what kind of programs they watch. And that's the worse kind of message to give them.

Another way to lessen the influence of media on your kids is to encourage them to take up hobbies, preferable an activity that takes them outdoors. This option is not only healthy, it also widens their consciousness and awareness on the kind of entertainment that is totally different from what is provided by the boob tube or the information highway. And if your kid isn't the sporty type, encourage him or her to take up reading, painting, or any activity they might be interested in and develop passion for. The key here is to introduce another means of entertainment and socialization other than watching television or surfing the internet. When they are mature enough and have kids of their own, they'll surely understand why.

Of course, don't just let your kids be immersed in an activity without you taking an active role in it. Take some time off yourself and spend it with your family to bond and enjoy moments together. Most kids would willingly give up watching television or surfing the net to spend some quality time with mom and dad, somewhere outside the home. This is also one way of strengthening family relationships, something that would influence them way more significantly that any form of entertainment.

Entertainment can also be enjoyed by the whole family, whether it's watching TV or going to the movies. Cultivate open communication between you and your kids so they will feel free to talk to you about anything. This helps lessen outside influence, as you encourage your kids to discuss things that matters to their young lives. Always remind them what they see in movies or online do not always apply to ordinary lives. As a parent, you also have the obligation to understand the things that entertain them and allow them freedom to express their opinion freely. It would not also hurt for you to tell them your fears and worries regarding the kind of TV programs and films being produced today. Let them understand that entertainment media may be prevalent these days but it is always up to the individual to choose what is suitable to see and what is not.

Julia Vakulenko is a licensed broker associate with Tampa4U.com Realty. She has one of the hardest working Tampa Real Estate team in Florida and also in2Va Team for Northern Virginia Real Estate.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Julia_Vakulenko

Hospitality - A Means of Love and Support

Hospitality must begin at home. Those people, young and old, that we share our home with must feel welcome when they are at home. Some who read this statement may be thinking, "how absurd, of course my family is welcome in their own home", but are they really, and more important, do they feel welcome? There can be a very fine line between someone feeling welcome at home, or feeling tolerated.

My passion for hospitality was born out of my own years of struggle as a wife and mom. It was quite easy to welcome guests in for a meal, but it was often difficult to welcome my husband and son because ours was an angry and stress-filled home. There were far too many days when the hurt I was carrying inside caused me to be very resentful when they walked through the door. It breaks my heart to confess this as I sit here writing and remembering, but it is with great joy that I tell you that my family and I worked hard to change this atmosphere and attitude in our home. I will forever be thankful that we did not give up on each other.

I learned that I had a great deal of power in setting the tone in our home. I would like to share some of the things that I did to make things better in our home, but I also need to share that our family sought outside help. So if your home is an angry, stress-filled home, you also may need to seek counsel in order to begin changing things. If not, maybe some of my thoughts and choices may be helpful.

1. One of the most important things I learned was that "feelings follow actions". I started acting loving and welcoming by stopping what I was doing, and giving my attention to my family when they walked through the door after work or school. This was not easy because I had a home-based business, but I did learn to make my family a priority.

2. I stopped greeting my husband with the latest wrong doing perpetrated by our son, or whatever else might have gone wrong in my day. I greeted him with a hug and a kiss, and gave him time to sit and relax and unwind from his day. We then ate dinner and talked. Now that it is just my husband and I, we go for a walk after he gets home from work. This is a wonderful time to share about our day and de-stress.

3. I began preparing favorite meals more often, rather than only for guests, birthdays or holidays. Favorite foods tend to say, "you are special to me and I value you".

4. I stopped nagging. Men and women do this, and it is so destructive to intimacy in relationships. Be very careful of your motive before you speak!

5.I stopped yelling and crying. All people, young and old, hate this behavior and tune out. You have just lost the battle, and the war, when you yell. Have a conversation with family members as you would a friend. In the art of hospitality we sit together and have a respectful conversation, do the same with your family.

6. Treat each other with kindness, gentleness and respect. I was recently in a home where I was not treated in this manner and I could not wait to get out of there. I all but ran out because I was not being heard. The women involved were far more interested in correcting, telling, and making their points, rather than being quiet and listening to me. Do not do this to anyone, including children.

7. Give each other space. Just as in hospitality, if you should have a guest in your kitchen helping with dinner, you will probably have to be patient with the differences in how things are being done. We need to allow for the differences in temperment, social style, age, and experience with our guests. We also need to do the same, to some degree, with our family members. We must always be mindful of treating others with dignity and kindness. Do not have expectations of others that they can not fulfill.

8. Plan fun time together. Relationships die without fun, ease, joy, and the ability to relax together. Life is far too stress-filled and fast-paced for all of us. We must be able to get away from the work of every day in order to celebrate our lives together.

I hope some of my thoughts on hospitality might be helpful in making your home a bit more welcoming and comfortable for all who enter your door. Blessings...

Suzanne Merrill
http://theheartofthehomeblog.blogspot.com a recipe and hospitality blog

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Suzanne_Merrill