From Symantec, the internet security people, comes this disturbing list of 100 online search terms used by your kids (ages 18 and under). For kids under age 7, “porn” is the number four most searched for word. “Sex” is number four with kids ages 8 – 18.
The study also shows that many kids are using search engines to find ways to disable or get around website blockers installed by parents.
What are the implications for youth and children’s ministry in your church? Kent Shaffer at ChurchRelevance.com offers this:
From a children’s ministry perspective, it is important to realize that statistically quite a few 7-year-olds in your class are searching for porn and exposing themselves to things much more serious than what traditional lessons cover. Obviously, children’s ministries cannot be straightforward about sex, but being too vague doesn’t work either.
Perhaps there are subtle ways to layer lessons with mature spiritual principles. Ideally, children’s ministry lessons should clearly yet subtly word things in a way that trains, helps, and ministers to the kids who are hurting and/or have picked up bad habits while simultaneously “going over the heads” and still teaching the kids who still have their innocence. Unfortunately, that is easier said than done.
I have 3 kids, 7, 5, and 3, and I work hard to shelter their exposure to this stuff. Maybe my 7 year old is too sheltered but I don’t even think she knows how to use Google. I am sure she hears stuff at school but I can take some comfort in that fact that she would rather watch Little House on the Prarie with us than Hanna Montana(which she has never watched).
There should be. Parents are the vessels through which God has ordained protection of children.
How shall we expect any different results when we as parents allow the bombardment of these evils through all mediums. ie; TV, movies, music, football games, etc.
The responsibility lies with the parents.
God bless the Sunday school teachers that have the task to overcome negligent parents. Some of the old time Fundamentalists had it correct.
The light of the body is still the eye.
Not suggesting that there is a degree of concern between that of parents and SS teachers. My point is that many SS teachers have no idea the extent to which the minds of those under their tutelage have been corrupted by the places they’ve surfed during the previous week. In other words, are Sunday School teacher prepared to “go there” with their students – and should they?
Paul —
um, why is this more disturbing for SS teachers than parents?