Hey darling, welcome back to the blog!
So today’s blog post is a little different for me because I’m doing one specifically for parents. I’ve done a few posts recently, but funny enough, three blog posts basically came out of a morning when I was praying a lot and doing a stream of consciousness. There was just so much on my mind at the time, so much that I was going through and working through, and yeah, there were so many different areas and pieces of content almost bundled together. I just wanted to break it into certain areas and talk about them.
So, all of that said, long story short, I’m really talking a lot about parenting right now, and one of the things that came to my mind was how I discipline my daughter.
Me and hubby have decided to raise her as a Christian.
Before we go straight into the blog post, I think it’s going to be quite a long one, so grab a cup of tea (or coffee, I’m not judging!). I just wanted to essentially share the background behind this because I think it’s very important.
I feel like it’s very important to have that foundational understanding of the Word. When you have that foundational understanding, you can watch certain content that’s not exactly created for Christians or by Christian creators, and it’s fine because you know how to decide and how to discern.
There might be certain shows that, when you watch them, you’re just turned off straight away (hello, questionable plotlines). Or there might be some shows where you can appreciate the animation, maybe you like the type of animation or the colours. Maybe certain scenes are very romantic, and you like the way the woman was treating her husband, or something that reminds you of something you haven’t done for your husband or maybe for a friend recently, like picking up the phone or something like that.
There could be many reasons why you like that movie or show. It doesn’t always need to be negative.
But I think when you have a foundational muscle built by the sermon, it’s very easy not to take the things that are not Christian and let them become part of you or part of a habit that draws you away from the Lord.
I think when you don’t have that foundation, it’s very easy to slip away from the Lord and start taking things in your power, because you’re just watching so much mainstream media, and it’s influencing you to do stuff in your power. It’s influencing you to take so much action on your own. It’s influencing you away from the Lord.
So I feel like there needs to be a certain kind of balance, and that foundational point needs to be there.
But I think when it comes to children, they don’t have that same muscle yet. They don’t really have a strong enough foundation in the Word, which is why I think as parents, we have to guide them. We can’t just have them watch any old thing.
I feel like this is for Christians and also for people who aren’t Christians; they don’t have that muscle to discern what’s right from wrong, so you have to discern for them.
One of the things I do for my daughter is, when she watches something on the iPad, I put her iPad on aeroplane mode so she can only watch the things that I’ve already previewed for her. She loves it, and she doesn’t stay long on the iPad anyway, to be fair, most probably her attention span (which is shorter than mine most days!). But she just doesn’t stay long.
I’ve previewed all the content before she watches it. She’s not allowed to mindlessly watch stuff.
I’d rather her be outside playing, exploring, looking at things, playing with flowers, riding her bike, I’d rather her do that creative play.
So long story short, this is kind of like a little brain dump for me as well. I just wanted to share these tips.
If you have any thoughts on this, definitely share a comment below. I’d love to hear your thoughts as a fellow parent.
But yeah, hope you enjoy!
Why I’m So Intentional About What My Daughter Watches
When it comes to my daughter, I’ve realised just how powerful imagination and entertainment really are. It’s not just about keeping her busy or giving her something to watch so I can get on with my day, it’s about guarding her heart and mind.
The shows she watches, the songs she listens to, and even those little short videos on a tablet, they all shape her thoughts, her speech, and the way she sees the world. I can’t just brush it off and say, “It’s only a cartoon” or “It’s harmless.” Children copy what they see, whether good or bad.
If a show normalises cheekiness, disrespect, or selfishness, they’ll imitate it without even thinking. But if they see kindness, teamwork, and problem-solving, those seeds are planted instead. And seeds grow.
Why We Can’t Just Say “It’s Only a Cartoon”
It’s tempting to dismiss concerns about kids entertainment with phrases like:
“They’re young; they won’t remember” or “It’s not that deep — it’s just a cartoon.”
But the truth is, children are sponges. What they see, they absorb. What they absorb, they eventually repeat.
Proverbs 22:6 says:
“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.”
Training isn’t passive, it’s active, deliberate, and consistent. That includes guiding what they watch, what they listen to, and what they start to believe is “normal” behaviour.
My Approach With My Daughter
Here’s what works for us as a family:
Preview Beforehand
I often watch an episode or a clip before my daughter sees it. This helps me decide whether it’s suitable and aligned with our family values.
Choose Values-Friendly Shows
I don’t restrict her to only Christian shows, but I do choose ones that reflect qualities like kindness, respect, teamwork, and problem-solving.
Use Content as Conversation Starters
If a character makes a wrong choice, I’ll pause the show and ask,
“Do you think that was the right thing to do? ”
Provide Educational Alternatives
I download approved educational shows to her tablet so she can still enjoy screen time without me worrying about inappropriate content popping up.
Balancing Fun and Boundaries
I believe kids should still have fun, they don’t need every single TV moment to be a moral lesson. But fun should never come at the cost of their innocence or character.
The Power of Imagination in Young Minds
Kids are naturally imaginative. A blanket can become a superhero cape, and a cardboard box can turn into a spaceship. But that imagination feeds on what they watch, read, and hear. Entertainment isn’t “neutral”, it’s either feeding their creativity and values in a healthy way, or it’s teaching behaviours we don’t want them to repeat.
That’s why I’m careful. I’ll often watch something myself before my daughter sees it. It’s not that she only watches Christian content, but I do make sure it’s content that won’t plant the wrong ideas in her heart.
Turning Screen Time Into Teaching Time
One thing I’ve learned is that I can use TV as a tool, not just a time-filler.
If a character makes a bad choice, I’ll pause and ask her,
“What do you think about that? Was that the right thing to do? What could they have done differently?”
It’s amazing how much kids notice and how quickly they start to recognise right from wrong when you guide them through it. These little conversations plant truth in their hearts, and they start to apply it outside of screen time too.
Fun Doesn’t Have to Mean Compromise
My goal isn’t to keep my daughter away from all mainstream media forever. As she grows older, I’ll teach her how to think critically about what she’s watching so she can make her own wise choices.
I’m not against fun. My daughter still enjoys silly, playful, and creative shows. But there’s a difference between fun and filling her mind with things that pull her away from God’s ways.
While she’s young, we (me and hubby) are her first line of defense and her first teachers. Entertainment is not “just entertainment.” It’s shaping who she’s becoming. And we’d rather be intentional now than try to undo bad habits later.
If this blog post resonates with you or if you have anything to add, please let me know in the comments below. I’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences!
Sending blessings your way!
Scherise. X
