STRONG FATHERS, STRONG DAUGHTERS Author Meg Meeker Shares Vital Parenting Tips for the Digital Generation
By Jessilyn Lancaster, Managing Editor
Dr. Meg Meeker’s decades of pediatric wisdom is put on display in Pure Flix’s STRONG FATHERS, STRONG DAUGHTERS, a fictional telling stringing together her parental advice in Meeker’s non-fiction book of the same name.
“When I originally wrote Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters, I did so because as a pediatrician, I found that the girls in my office who were doing really well recovering from illnesses, anorexia and depression were ones who had fathers involved, and yet fathers were being bashed everywhere,” Meeker tells Movieguide®. “They’re the butt of jokes, but the research says the opposite, so I [wrote] a book and talk about that and it just hit. I mean, it’s like a light went off. It’s still quite popular because I think that for fathers, they realized somebody was saying something positive about them but also encouraging them and saying, ‘You got this! You can do it. I think that the popularity of the book is what prompted the movie, and I think the movie’s great.”
According to the Movieguide® review,
STRONG FATHERS, STRONG DAUGHTERS is a funny, heartfelt comedy full of faith, prayer, and themes of sacrifice, trust and family. Despite Steve’s shortcomings, the movie champions family, parenthood and marriage. One of Steve’s daughters is rebellious throughout the movie, but each character learns from their mistakes. There’s an underage party scene and some tense moments in STRONG FATHERS, STRONG DAUGHTERS. However, it’s a faith-friendly comedy the whole family can enjoy.
Meeker’s insight goes far beyond the movie, though, as she deals with the effects of media on teenagers every day.
“It is profound,” she says of media’s influence. “I would include social media in there as well, but particularly movies and television shows and sitcoms, and these serial movies that kids have. Kids adopt a sense of who they are, not completely, but their sense of self and their self image is directly related to what they see on television.
“For instance, I routinely asked the team girls in my practice, ‘What do you want to be when you grow up?’ And they say, “Sexy and popular,’ and then the third one is thin,” Meeker continued.
“That is very telling, and that’s fairly routine. They don’t say, ‘I want to be an engineer, I want to be, whatever.’ They always talk about things like the way they look. They want to be popular then sexy. That is directly from the media and movies, their parents don’t tell them that. This is a very damaging. It has very damaging effect on girls because they their self-esteem depends on these things — not on character, but on these things. That’s why I feel strongly about limiting exposure to certain shows, even when when kids are at a young age.”
Meeker offered the following tips to raising godly children in a digital age.
“Computers and screens and they’re here to stay. I would just encourage parents to sit down as a couple and talk about them wisely,” Meeker said. “Okay, first of all, and parents don’t like this, but they need to set limits on their own use of screens, particularly when the families around.
“I encourage families to at least start with one hour a night where you’re not on a screen, phone, television, iPad, and then, over time, increase. Now once they have disciplined themselves to do that, then they ask that of their children. Because one of the pitfalls parents make is they tell their kids to get off social media, but the parents just sit there texting and and the kids end up feeling ignored, so it has to be a family effort,” Meeker continued.
“If a family has rules around screens, particularly in the evenings, and I even encourage parents to have a cupboard or a basket in your kitchen, where when 7 o’clock comes, everything goes in the basket, including mom and dad’s. That’s just a given, that’s part of the routine and then, of course, to increase the amount of time.”
Meeker added: “But there’s so we are learning about all the research, it’s talking about girls in particular in social media, it’s horrible. Depression goes up with the amount of social media they see and then also video games for boys. I encourage parents, you know, come up with a schedule, take charge, start with your own use, and then pull your kids into it and make it a family rule.”
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
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