Movies minus the language, violence, etc.

Posted on: 05/4/20 2:13 PM | by Jonathan McKee

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If you’re a parent and you like movies, then you might find it difficult to find some “family friendly” movies or shows that are actually appropriate for your kids.

Take Neflix’s Stranger Things for example. Really fun show, creative, well written… but if your kids are 6, 8 and 10, the language and frightening scenes might be a little much.

Or let’s say you nostalgically remember watching Goonies as a teen, so you rent it and stream it on Continue reading “Movies minus the language, violence, etc.”

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A fun new podcast

Posted on: 12/3/19 3:31 PM | by Jonathan McKee

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Disney Princesses, Hallmark films, giving your kids screens…. these are all topics we’re talking about in a new podcast I’m a part of.

The podcast is called The Plugged In Show, and Focus’ Plugged In team of writers has invited me to join in with them to discuss movies, music, TV and the entertainment young people love.

Being completely honest… I love these guys! (And I used the term “guys” loosely, because one of them is a girl!) They are really fun. Most of them are movie buffs like me, so we really have a fun time getting together and talking about movies, music, Netflix… Continue reading “A fun new podcast”

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How well do you know young people’s media habits?

Posted on: 11/10/19 2:17 PM | by Jonathan McKee

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Take Jonathan’s Quick 8-Question
TWEENS, TEENS & SCREENS QUIZ

How many hours a day does the average teen (13- to 18-year-olds) spend soaking in entertainment screen time?

Are tweens (8- to 12-year-olds) any different?

What entertainment activity do they enjoy the most?

Let’s test your knowledge!

After all, the newest numbers have just been tallied by Common Sense Media’s brand-new report tracking media use by tweens and teens…and this is the biggest and most widely cited report of its kind. For the last four years Continue reading “How well do you know young people’s media habits?”

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A Netflix Show Youth Workers and Parents Might Want to Watch

Posted on: 10/7/19 5:52 PM | by Jonathan McKee

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Every once in a while a movie or TV show comes along that actually “gets” young people today or provides a glimpse at “how to reach them.”

Well, Netflix just released a series titled, Unbelievable, that literally took my breath away, on several levels.

First, I’m writing a book on social media right now and happen to be waist deep in research about predators (which sadly sometimes turns into sexual assault, rape, sex slavery, etc.). And this series is about rape victims.

Secondly, this series provides a picture-perfect example of how not to treat people who are victims of abuse, bullying, rape, etc. I mean perfectly! As in, I would actually make my youth ministry volunteers watch episode one and then episode two of this series, and then we’d all meet together and compare the two polar opposite ways we could treat those who are abused, assaulted, etc. and discuss what this looks like in the youth ministry world. Continue reading “A Netflix Show Youth Workers and Parents Might Want to Watch”

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My TV Interview in Canada

Posted on: 10/1/19 3:30 AM | by Jonathan McKee

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Last week Canadian TV show 100 Huntley Street had me in the studio talking about how to help today’s young guys battle the four biggest distractions in their lives…

I touch on all four in this 11 minute interview.

Here’s a peek…

If you are looking for a tool to help a young man fight these battles… this book might be exactly what you’re looking for: The Guy’s Guide to Four Battles Every Young Man Must Face.

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Not so “super” heroes

Posted on: 09/17/19 4:13 PM | by Jonathan McKee

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Mom, can I watch ‘The Boys’ on Amazon Prime?

What’s it about?

Superheroes.

Sure. Why not?

I guess that’s a good question. “Why not?”

Helping our kids learn to make good entertainment decisions isn’t easy (just like helping our kids escape porn isn’t easy). And with all the easy access to raunchy entertainment today, parenting has become a little more complex.

Some might call it unrealistic to wish that superheroes were always good guys. Today’s demand for authentic entertainment calls for more “real” or “gritty” characters… i.e. superheroes who are rapists, peeping toms, liars, murderers, hypocrites, drug addicts…and that’s exactly what you get with almost every hero in The Boys. Because that’s “real”, right?

Let’s just say that The Boys, based off the graphic novel/comic book series of the same name, provides Continue reading “Not so “super” heroes”

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What Parents Need to Know about Zendaya and Euphoria

Posted on: 08/6/19 7:52 PM | by Jonathan McKee

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What do you get when a former Disney star feels the need to break free from innocent roles?

No, I’m not talking about Miley, or Selena…I’m talking about the 2019 Nickelodeon Kid’s Choice Awards “Favorite Female TV Star,” Zendaya, who many of you might know as ‘MJ’ in the most recent Spiderman: Far from Home…and let’s just say her most recent HBO show Euphoria is a little far from home.

Exactly how far does this TV-MA series stray?

The plot “keywords” might give you an idea Continue reading “What Parents Need to Know about Zendaya and Euphoria”

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Why screen time inhibits toddler development

Posted on: 02/14/19 10:00 AM | by Jonathan McKee

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Where’s Nathan?

I just changed his diaper and plopped him in front of the TV… again.

Any theories why Nathan doesn’t walk yet?

It’s probably not a surprise to you to hear that if we plop our toddlers down in front of a screen it hurts their development. We’ve heard the arguments before. Too much screen time has negative effects all around. And some experts even push back and try to contest it.

But according to a new study from the University of Calgary, the results are pretty clear about the effects of screen time on young kids Continue reading “Why screen time inhibits toddler development”

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Netflix’s “Sex Education”

Posted on: 01/9/19 3:30 AM | by Jonathan McKee

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It premieres on Netflix in just two days, but it’s probably not what you think when you hear the words “sex education.”

In a world where many parents really struggle with how and when to engage their kids in “the talk”… Netflix is launching a show that once again (yes, they did the same thing with Big Mouth) is either addressing or exploiting—you decide—the subject that isn’t talked about much in most homes. But from the world’s perspective, of course Continue reading “Netflix’s “Sex Education””

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