Scott Kamps
Witnessing the joy on a child’s face when opening a gift they love is a delight we can share in.
My oldest son wanted to give his younger siblings an NFL experience and purchased tickets to the Lions vs. Cowboys game at AT&T Stadium in December. The younger five siblings opened their gift Christmas morning to discover they were going to Texas to see friends and an NFL game.
They couldn’t contain their joy and I enjoyed the whole spectacle more than any gift I remember receiving.
I’m thankful to have experienced such an adventure with my family, but the most substantive gifts we can give are intangible.
Growing up knowing Jesus saves is the greatest gift of all. Other important gifts are being taught to respect God-ordained authorities and to know right from wrong.
These eternal gifts exceed any extraordinary experience or tangible gift, although they are often underappreciated.
In the long run, many young adults do come to appreciate these types of gifts – especially if they recognize what it cost parents to give them.
A great gift parents can give their children in our day is keeping them off social media until they’re 18. Social media is sometimes referred to as “antisocial media” or even “digital fentanyl.”
In 2022, the Wall Street Journal ran the article, “Facebook Knows Instagram Is Toxic for Teen Girls.”
Studies abound, demonstrating the harm social media does, especially to young girls.
Yet, in 2023 it was reported that nearly 95 percent of 13-17 year olds use a social media platform, with more than a third using it “almost constantly.”
Social media’s negative effects on adults seem obvious; yet, we allow it to consume those even more vulnerable.
There may be a few positives to limited social media, but it seems most prudent to delay its hold/influence.
Many say if you ban kids from it, they’ll find a way around restrictions. I agree, which leads me to another great gift to consider giving children – no smart phones until 18. There are few good reasons for kids to have phones with internet capabilities before they are 16-18; and smart phones turn teenagers (along with many adults) into phone zombies.
These technologies are so bad for children/young adults that state and federal social media bans are under consideration – even with bipartisan support.
Without debating governmental involvement, it seems obvious parents need to step up in the best interest of kids. Social media/smart phones are realities in our day, and parents in our generation are the first to guide kids through these modern challenges. While it’s daunting, parents should proceed cautiously, wisely, and courageously.
Parents – especially Christian parents – should not look to the government to save us from the difficulties of parenting.
When your child begs for a smart phone or social media account, consider telling them it’s your gift to them to not have those things but to be social in the real world; then go do something with them.
One day, they’ll thank you for it.
Scott Kamps writes a bi-weekly column for The Graham Star. He can be reached via email, thestableguy@frontier.com.