The Family in the Global Village

Mediji se danas aktivno uključuju u obiteljske procese i interakcije, a osobito na tri područja: u organizaciji obiteljskog dnevnog reda, u odnosu između djece i roditelja te u stvaranju izvanobiteljskih odnosa. Posebno je značajno da su se uvelike ubacili u proces prenošenja vrednota, koji više ne funkcionira kao nekad kad su zajedno živjele tri ili više generacija. Predškolska djeca gledaju televiziju u skladu s dnevnim ritmom i s njima roditelji imaju najmanje problema, ali je vrlo važno da ih uvode u razumijevanje televizije i prate ih u njihovom doživljavanju programa. Još više brige trebaju školska djeca, koja rado razgovaraju s roditeljima o dojmovima iz medija, kad ovi to hoće i znaju; inače uglavnom svoja iskustva i doživljaje dijele s vršnjacima. Istraživanja pokazuju da upotreba medija, posebno televizije, ovisi i o tipu obitelji. Najmanje problema imaju obitelji s oba roditelja i jednim ili dvoje djece te drže sve pod kontrolom, a brojne obitelji se često teško nose i sa samim dnevnim redom, kao i sa željama i zahtjevima djece. Najteže je samohranim majkama koje puno izbivaju iz doma pa djecu moraju ostavljati samu s medijima. Kako razvoj mlade osobe, njezina duševna stabilnost, socijalna uklopljenost i duhovno sazrijevanje bitno ovise o obitelji, društvo i Crkva trebaju tom pitanju posvetiti mnogo veću pažnju nego dosada. Kao odgovor na te probleme i izazove, potrebno je omogućiti stjecanje medijske pismenosti i kompetencije, počevši od predškolske dobi, i nastaviti cijeli život. U tome se treba angažirati država preko svojih obrazovnih i odgojnih institucija, ali i sama obitelj, koja treba stvoriti pretpostavke za sustav javnoga školstva, i pratiti ga. Crkva također, preko svoga udjela u javnom školstvu, kao i putem župnoga vjeronauka i naobrazbe odraslih može dati svoj prinos, posvećujući posebnu pažnju mladim obiteljima. Nastojeći da svojim službenicima omogući medijsku pismenost i kompetenciju, može uvelike poboljšati svoju pastoralnu ponudu.Media have taken an active part in the family processes and interactions, particularly in three specific areas: the organisation of a family everyday routine, the relationship between children and their parents, and the creation of relationships outside the family. It is of a special importance that the media have a major impact on the transmission of the set of values, which has changed a lot from the times when three or more generations lived under the same roof. Pre-school children watch television every day. Although at this age parents do not have problems with them, it is important that they are given the instructions on how to understand what they see, and that the parents are aware of how their children experience television programme. Children who go to school demand more attention. They like to share their impressions with their parents when parents are willing to; otherwise they discuss what they see or hear with their peers. The research has shown that all the children are not exposed to the media to the same extent. It depends on their family. In families where one child or two children live with both parents, the parents have everything pretty much under control. It is more difficult in families with many children where it is hard enough to keep up with the daily routine, wishes and demands of the children. Single mothers suffer most, for they often have to be away from home and leave their children alone with television sets. As families play a very important role in the development of the personality of young people, their mental stability, social competence and spiritual growth, both the Church and society should pay more attention to this issue than they have done up to now. The possible answer to the problems and challenges may be development of literacy and competence for the mass media in children of a very young age, which should be permanent. All the public educational institutions should be involved, along with families which should serve as a firm foundation for the public system of education and keep up with it. The Church should also participate, through religious education held in schools and parishes, paying special attention to young families. In attempt to provide parishioners with the required competence for the mass media, the Church can also improve its pastoral work