"In our individualistic and self-focused culture, children are continually bombarded with the message that they hold great significance in the universe, and must therefore believe in their significance so that they may reach their ultimate potential as human beings." Jeremy Lelek, President of the Association of Biblical Counselors.

How can you help your children understand that God is the center of all things -- when culture says the opposite?

• We acknowledge that a young, dependent child, by the very nature of her dependency, requires a great deal of attention from her parents. The child's basic needs are the responsibility of the parents. The infant can do nothing for herself.
• However, this natural and necessary pattern of dependence and domination must slowly but surely be eliminated as the child matures. If this is not the case, a child can begin to imagine she is entitled and deserving of everything she desires.

If sex sells, TV programmers are adding inventory to an already humongous sale. "It's become downright ubiquitous," says Tim Winter, president of the Parents Television Council. "Families are under siege, teenage girls are under siege. You don't know what the cultural impact will be down the road."

Parents, what can you do about this cultural phenomenon?

• Become educated about what is readily available for TV viewing.  Don't bury your head in the sand. The key is to know the content of any show your kids watch.
• Take a look at the channels that are available to the kids in your home. Some of the worst offenders are Starz's, MTV, and HBO. Think long and hard before you include those in your subscription.

The idea of slowing the pace in parenting seems to be catching on these days.  "The days of hyper-parenting are on the wane," says Carl Honore, author of Under pressure: Rescuing Our Children From the Culture of Hyper-Parenting. "I think the pendulum is now swinging in the other direction.  More and more families are yearning to put on the brakes, to back off, to stop treating child rearing like a competitive sport."

How can that be accomplished in your life?

Maybe you've bought into the lie that it is all about "quality time." Every parent wants quality time and that is what happens occasionally while you're have quantity time. That's what slowing down is all about.

The Bad News: "Kids who don't have solid ethics not only make poor citizens, they also can't stay strong in the face of alcohol and drugs and are less able to have healthy relationships," states Elizabeth Larsen the author of an article titled "Ethical Fitness".

The Good News: Ethical development can be actively encouraged. "Parents who raise moral kids don't do so by accident," says Michelle Borba, author of Building Moral Intelligence. "They prioritize it. They stick to their guns.  And they use every opportunity to teach."

Let's take a look at those three comments and capitalize on the good news: