Hey PPN Family,

I recently read a book entitled Habits of the Household by Justin Whitmel Earley, and in it he discusses the importance of making sure that our children are being formed by us and not by what they are watching on their screens. Earley writes, “The fight is not about ‘Are screens okay?’ or ‘How much screentime is too much?’ The fight is about whether you are forming your children or you are defaulting to letting screens form them.”

A survey in 2021 found that on an average day, Australians spend 1 hour and 48 minutes on social media, 2 hours watching streaming services like Netflix, and about an hour and a half on video games. That adds up to over 5 hours of screentime a day if we are doing all three of these things. It goes without saying that this would have a significant impact on the formation of a child if they were to spend that much time on a screen.

In Philippians 4:8 (NLT), Paul encourages us to, “Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”

Again, the issue is not about doing away with screens, but it is about ensuring that our children (as well as us) have plenty of time to think about the positive and amazing truths of God. The truth that God loves us deeply and that nothing will ever separate us from that love. The truth that God is always with us and that He will give us the love, power and strength that we need to overcome whatever challenges may come our way. The truth that God has called us to love and forgive others as He loves and forgives us.

In an age where we are surrounded by screens, it is essential that we make time for our children and ourselves to meditate and ponder on these things.

God bless,

Roland Talamaivao-Amituanai