Fatherhood in a Technological World – Message #43
If you don’t live in a community that is overwhelmed with violence or the ravages of war, it can be difficult to make an extended discussion about world politics and global conflict with your young child relevant.
With the recent terrorist attacks in Paris and San Bernardino, followed by a hoax terror threat in Los Angeles and New York that caused the school system in Los Angeles to shutdown for a day, reports of conflict are widespread in the news, but they can still remain distant to school-aged children.
However, when your child comes home from school and reports that they had a lock-down drill (a security exercise) and teachers are discussing various scenarios involving a gunman or terrorist, then that pretty much opens the door for a parent to start bringing the child up to speed with whatever level of information they can handle.
There’s can be a pretty big difference between how much an 11 year old boy and an 8 year old girl can handle but take the opportunity as a parent to appease their newfound curiosity and openness to a new subject.
Technology plays an enormous part in the complexity and impact of modern warfare, social movements, and international affairs, and social media is used by various radical groups to prey on disenfranchised youth and adults.
Especially since Civics is not a requirement in school, as a parent you ought to extol the virtues of your citizenship to your children so that they have an appreciation for the liberties and opportunities that are available to them, guaranteed by law.
If they have a personal belief in the positives of the society they live in, they are less likely to be flee their environment. At the same time, it’s important to explain why the same values which you find praiseworthy are also seen by some groups of people in the world as disdainful.
There is no lack of subjects you might end up tackling with your children when you mix into the conversation everything from the U.S. Constitution, political correctness, immigration, technology influence, Islamic law, and ways to be prepared in a violent event.
To make things more colorful, we have the Presidential race that is ongoing which opens up more topics, especially when other children at school tend to make blanket statements about individual politicians.
Understand Others, Understand Themselves
There’s a lot to be learned as young people begin to learn about these complex issues, especially before they get inhibited from addressing controversy like many adults become. I encourage my children to ask questions and to be curious. If in their conversations someone makes an accusation or derogatory statement about someone or something, which can be a common occurrence with young people, I encourage my kids to ask their friends or adults questions without being combative, to see what the other person knows about what they are talking about, and check out how open-minded they are. Also check to see if they know what the broader issues are, what they think is important, and what would they do or how would they react in a similar situation.
That’s all I have for now to broach this subject.
I’d like to hear about your experiences, please leave a comment.
CY
P.S. In the video I express some of my experiences growing up in Silicon Valley and the struggle helping my children understand the society they live in and how the recent violent events have had an effect. I mildly get into some politics in a way that might help you explain national security to your children.
About Fatherhood in a Technological World
Fathers of young children in today’s modern society are facing unprecedented challenges with the wave of technology allowing ever easier access to the internet. The effect on your children has and will have a great influence on their growth. As a parent, you may be feeling the anxiety of having to confront the challenges of being at the end of the rail of the powerful forces driving technology into the laps and hands of your children.
Your work is cut out for you are a father. Even though popular culture doesn’t do well to herald the value of the leadership role of men in the form of fathers, let me tell you right now, being a father in this time and age has never been more important.
Click here to read the complete pilot blog article for FTW
Use what you find that may be helpful and share some of your own insights in my comments.
Tag along for the ride and let’s see if we can cover some common ground.
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Challen Yee
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