I believed teaching children before age three was important. So, I raised three daughters, as my mama raised me.
Guided by faith and fortified most times by tough love. Now, as a great-grandmother, I watch a new generation of parents grappling with a digital Babel.
It’s where a chaotic world of social media chatter and algorithm-curated content threaten to drown out a parent’s wisdom.
Children’s identities are being shaped by trending topics and TikTok feeds.
The spiritual and emotional challenge is real: How do we teach our children who they are when the digital noise is so loud?
Nothing has concerned me more than this: children growing up without a clear sense of who they are — spiritually, emotionally, or even morally.
I taught my children firm boundaries and a deep belief that they were more than their circumstances.
And when they reached middle school, I let them choose their high school — but only after long talks about character, responsibility, and calling.
They knew they had to keep their grades up if they wanted privileges like a driver’s license.
That was how I parented: a balance of love and accountability.
Now, as a great-grandmother, I look at today’s world and I worry.
The Digital Noise vs. Parental Wisdom
In my day, “screen time” meant family TV night or Saturday morning cartoons. Now teaching children gets complicated when every child holds a portal to the world in their hand.
Each swipe can uplift or erode self-worth. I recall one of my daughters as a teen, her confidence shaken by a hurtful gossip. It felt like I was whispering “You are precious and unique” it’ll all pass.
Today, I see my granddaughter facing a thousand voices online dictating how to look, think, and be.
Scripture reminds us God isn’t the author of confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33), yet confusion swirls around our kids.
I worry, I weep, I worship – a rhythm of resilience.
I trust that a parent’s love can cut through the chaos of this digital age when it comes to teaching children.
When Parental Rights Feel Eroded
It’s not just the gadgets; it’s the gatekeepers. Parents everywhere feel their rights to teach their children are being chipped away by government and institutional overreach.
Officials propose sweeping rules to “protect” children online. Yes, safety is vital, but too often decisions are made for families instead of with families.
Australia now bars children under 16 from social media without parental consent. This aims to safeguard kids, but it also signals governments stepping into roles parents traditionally held.
In the U.S., laws like the Kids Online Safety Act could hand more control to regulators. Critics warn such measures may undermine parental authority.
As a mom who fought to raise my girls by universal values, I bristle at the idea of bureaucrats dictating what’s best for my child.
Whether it’s a school curriculum that sidelines parents or a platform molding a teen’s worldview, the struggle is global.
Mothers from Nairobi to New York share a plea: let us parent! Parental responsibility is a sacred trust (Proverbs 22:6).
When that bond is threatened – by a flashy app or a well-meaning law – our children suffer. Our core values in teaching children are eroded.
Spiritually Grounded Parenting in a Tech World
How can we raise children of character and faith amid this media maze? Through consistent, loving guidance that cuts through the noise.
Here are a few practices I’ve found effective:
- Create “Sacred Spaces” Offline: Make tech-free zones or times (like family dinners or bedtime). These become holy ground for connection. It’s where a child hears a parent’s voice clearly and remembers who they are – beloved and valued (Psalm 139:14).
- Affirm Identity Beyond Likes: Tell kids often their worth isn’t measured by likes or followers. Remind them they’re wonderfully made with a purpose (Jeremiah 1:5). No amount of digital applause or criticism changes that truth.
- Model the Balance: Practice what you preach about tech use. Let them see you put people before screens. Pausing notifications during family time or opening a real Bible instead of an app. Living with balance shows them a path of peace beyond the screen.
Hope Beyond the Noise
Raising children in this digital babel is daunting. But take heart: we’re not alone.
Across continents, parents are waking up to these challenges and finding strength in each other. As a great-grandmother, I see history repeating in a new key.
The tools change – radio, TV, TikTok – but the heart of parenting endures. Love, truth, and presence still triumph over noise and lies.
There’s a promise in Isaiah that comforts me: “All your children will be taught by the Lord, and great will be their peace” (Isaiah 54:13).
No algorithm can overwrite the eternal truths on a child’s heart. When we anchor ourselves in spiritual wisdom and speak life into our kids, our words echo even when the Wi-Fi’s off.
So stand firm, dear parents. In this age of endless alerts, you remain the keeper of your child’s identity. You are the gatekeeper when it comes to you teaching children.
No matter how loud the world gets, your loving guidance – steady, gentle, grounded in faith – can help them hear the one voice that matters most.
