So, our family has been out of the cable TV loop for about six years.  Today, a few things came together and I had the chance to watch a show on Nick.  While the show, clearly aimed at pre-teens, was cute, it left me wondering what message there are trying to send.  The basic premise was something like this:  a group of kids wanted to eat dinner at a really expensive restaurant.  Being teens, they could not afford to and they devised a scheme to eat there.  To get the money they defrauded their high school out of $1500 (convincing a teacher to assist them), then used the money for their extravagant dinner.  Did they get caught?  No, they did not.  Was there any lesson about lying, fraud or theft?  No, there was not.  In fact, the only message that I could see was, “There are no consequences for immoral or illegal behavior.”  Not exactly a message I want my kids getting.

Parents, watch your kids shows with them from time to time.  Watch them critically.  Ask yourself, “What lesson(s) are my kids learning from this?”