Balancing Media in a Complicated World: Practical Practices for Parents and Caregivers

How many media tools does your family use to simply communicate, to learn, to be entertained, or to make purchases? Televisions, Desktops, Laptops, Smart-phones, Mp3’s, etc, are just a few of the gadgets that have impregnated our life style. In fact, thanks to technology, we can work with, learn from, listen and talk to, and even play games with people from just about anywhere in the world from our homes, our cars, and even airplanes. 

Amidst all the conveniences however, there is also cause for concern. What is the impact of these conveniences on our children?  How do we protect them from cyber bullying or sexual predators who may be responding on the other end of the technology on which we have grown to depend?  Then too, there are growing questions about the impact of such “gadgets” on the development of the brain and the social growth of young children.

Melanie Gordon

Melanie Gordon, Director of Ministry with Children, from the General Board of Discipleship of the United Methodist Church, has done extensive work evaluating the impact of technology on the development of children.  Melanie will be doing an educational presentation at Nolensville United Methodist Church on Monday evening, April 11, at 6:30pm.  Members of the community are invited to come and share in an interactive conversation to learn how we can balance media in a complicated world. Her topic is one of extreme importance to all who face decisions about the use of media in today’s fast-paced society, no matter the age of their children.

Melanie earned Bachelor of Arts degree from Clemson and a Masters of Church Ministry from Duke Divinity School. She writes a weekly blog on children’s issues and directs FOCUS, the quadrennial international conference for those engaged in ministry for children.

The presentation is free. For additional information, please call Jacob’s Ladder at 615-776-7362.