Jul 13
Turning Off Some TV When She’s 7 Reduces Risk Of Sex When She’s 17!
Posted by Dannah Gresh, Creator of Secret Keeper Girl Are you one of “those” moms who is always the lone boycotter of the newest TV fad? Turns out, you’re a good mom and some new research proves just how much you’re protecting. (It’s more than her mind!) It’s not just the categorically “bad” television that hurts our kids. The most sensational scenarios are not what’s robbing our little girls of their innocence. It’s the slow-drip of value-ingraining shows where girls dress up and go on dates and our little girls are pressed to identify with older more mature characters and life scenarios. (I probably don’t have to mention that Hannah Montana has a lot of that stuff in it, do I?) It’s what culture as deemed the “norm” that probably shouldn’t be, if you want to keep the little in your girl.
As I was writing Six Ways To Keep The Little In Your Girl: Guiding Your Daughter From Her Tweens To Her Teens (September 1, 2010), one of the more unusual findings of my studies was that there is an actual biological component to this trend. After viewing romantic film content, both men and women being studied experienced changes in progesterone and testosterone levels. (Have you ever watched an over-the-top romantic movie with perhaps mild sexual nuances to it, and then found yourself craving your husband?) These findings indicate that media content actually alters the endocrine environment, at least temporarily. As I write this the pediatric field is exploring this question: can early exposure to sexual images such as those seen in music videos and commonly viewed primetime television be altering the rate of maturity in a girl’s body, thus creating the trend of reaching menarche earlier?
Play it safe, mom. The stakes are too high.
So, is your daughter to be a monk? Naw! TV, music and movies aren’t all bad. Just some of it is. My new release, Six Ways to Keep The Little In Your Girl, is full of more great statistics, hilarious stories of raising my own tweens and creative ideas to guide their eye toward age-appropriate television. Pre-purchase a copy today at our online bookstore.
[i] Victor Strasburger, M.D. “Clueless: Why Do Pediatricians Underestimate the Media’s Influence on Children and Adolescents?” Pediatrics: Official Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Volume 117, Number 4, April 2006,
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This article brought to my mind the Scriptures in Song of Solomon when the Shulamite speaks to the Daughters of Jerusalem. She does this more than once “I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, By the gazelles or by the does of the field, Do not stir up nor awaken love Until it pleases.” Song of Solomon 2:7
A charge and a warning against awakening sexual desires and intimacy until it is at a proper time within the bounds of marriage.
Ahh, the truths of Gods Word are so great. Thank You Lord for Your Word.
Blessings to you,
Connie
CA
hi dannah! i’m known as “confused christian” or “(not such a) confused christian) on the lywb blog but i wanted to use a different name on here! haha
well first of all i’m 13 and i hardly watch any t.v. anymore. there’s like one show i really watch and it’s on on friday’s, not every night. well anyway, i read all your stuff concerning the whole miley deal, and i completely agree with you. my little 8 year old sister was a big hannah montana fan until i explained some stuff to her. i was telling her about the video and the lesbian kisses onstage and such and i am proud to tell you i convinced her to throw away her hannah montana posters & to agree to stop watching the show!
i even offered to get her a new poster of something different since she threw away her hannah montana ones 
she told our mom about this stuff and my mom isn’t a miley fan either anymore 
haha.
anyway, my little sis is addicted to t.v. and i am trying to convince her to stop watching so much but that doesn’t go so well! please pray for her to stop liking it so much!
oh and i have ordered ur books “lywb” and “and the bride wore white” from walmart.com and they should be here sometime between this thursday and next monday!!!
i’m so excited!!
God bless,
xraspberryheartx
Wow! I agree wholeheartedly that all of the above mentioned situations will affect our girls-or anyone. My sentiments exactly and I could not have come close to saying it better. Thanks for the info!
Hi,
I just stumbled upon your blog. It’s so heartening to know that there are still some women who have some concern for decency and are trying to promote it. People have no idea about the impact of media on their psyche and they just can’t see the muck around them. I hope your efforts will help some to lead a life of dignity.
Dannah! What a great post and so full of truth. I am going to share this post with my daughter and daughter-in-laws as a way to educate them on the importance of guarding my sweet tween grandaughters from the onslaught of sexuality that is on television!! Thanks for taking a stand on this. I am right there with you amen-ing all the way!!
This just confirms the intuituions I already had—even for my son, who is our firstborn! I’m happy to say that so far my almost 12 year old daughter has a close small group of friends who are not boy-crazy, not ever really into Hannah Montanna, and still think boys are not boyfriends. Thanks for putting this out there and encouraging Moms to stand up for what they already know and feel in their hearts.
Almost one year ago I cancelled our cable. Now, because we don’t have a digital TV or connection the only thing we can watch are videos and DVDs. That means only what we choose to watch. This switch has opened up conversations about why it is so important to make wise choices in media influences (TV, movies, music, internet) with my 8 year old daughter. I have even had a chance to talk to her friends when they marvel that we don’t have “TV” in our house!
Wow, as I am about to give birth to my 2nd child and my first little girl. I am enlightened and empowered by this article. I have taken this a little further and started at birth to turn off my TV. As a result I have a Son with a very active imagination and an amazing vocabulary. At just 2, I am floored by his ability to play creatively and to communicate so well. I am glad to have resources such as this to help me continue to make choices that will benefit my children as they grow. Thank you.