As a Christian parent, sometimes we are faced with the complicated decision as to whether or not we should allow our children to watch movies or shows, such as Harry Potter or Twilight. Do we allow them to jump into the Manga world? Should they be able to play a violent video game? We all know our kids would make successful lawyers, because they can usually argue their point as to why they should be able to watch or play or read these until we mamas are the ones blue in the face. In the end, it’s our decision. And one that’s not always easy to make.

I avoided Harry Potter and Twilight for a long time. Breaking Dawn was already out when I chose to read the series after a bunch of my friends were telling me how incredible it was. One of the last book series I read years earlier was Anne Rice’s Interview with a Vampire. I was in my late teens. That series is a bit dark, and I was afraid of what I would open my spirit to if I read Twilight. Fortunately, Stephanie Meyer decided her vampires would have moral values and would rather drink from animals than humans, many of which line up with biblical morality and values. I saw and owned all of the Harry Potter movies before I started reading the books. It was clear in the movies that the line between evil and good is drawn. I wish I had observed them for myself when my kids were younger. Because, like Lord of the Rings or Star Wars or any other epic story you can name, they are worth looking into, in my opinion.

So how do we mamas decide what to allow our children to be exposed to?

1. Watch Harry Potter yourself.

Before opening the door to Hogwarts for your child, take the time to watch it or read it yourself and with your spouse, if you are married. You will likely know by the time you are half an hour into the movie if it’s safe for your kids.

Vic and I took our kids to see the new Rugrats movie when it released. Not ten minutes into the film, we were uncomfortable with the messages the movie shared. Within twenty minutes, we scooped up our toddlers/children and left the theater.

As a parent, you know what is good for your kids and what isn’t. Use that discernment. Check it out first, whether it’s a book, movie, video game, social media platform, or any other potentially harmful source of entertainment.

2. To each his own convictions.

Everyone has different convictions in this life. While we may hold the same foundational beliefs when it comes to our Christian faith, there are various levels of exposure we can handle. Hear me out. I’m not saying to expose yourself or your children to something along the lines of pornography (which is hard in today’s world of entertainment, because we all know how much Hollywood believes that sex sells, even to our toddlers). What I am talking about here is the level of spiritual tolerance we have for particular entertainment.

For example, I love watching crime shows. NCIS. Bones. Castle. Chicago PD. FBI. Law and Order SVU. These are the shows that I watch season after season. Although, now that Gibbs is gone from NCIS, I’m struggling to love it as much as I used to. I know that I can stomach Criminal Minds. But there are some episodes of that particular show where they get into the mind of villains who are immersed in the demonic, and I cannot tolerate those. So I skip them. It’s really that simple.

Another example: I know Christians who enjoy horror movies like Pet Cemetery or Friday the 13th. I haven’t watched a horror movie since Pet Cemetery. I know that type of movie hurts my spirit.

One more: I LOVED The Lost Boys when I was a teen. I could recite that movie from beginning to end, I’d watched it so many times. I haven’t seen it since I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I’ve thought about watching it more than once. But there’s a check I get in my spirit every time I do. So I don’t.

This is what I’m talking about here. Listen to your convictions. Especially when it comes to your children.

3. Consider the teachable moments.

When I think of Harry Potter, I also think of Lord of the Rings. Both are epic tales. Both involve wizards. Both tell of the battle between good and evil, with good triumphant at the end. They have a main character who is going to save the world, someone young.

What’s the difference between them? I know Tolkien was a man of faith. I’m not entirely sure what Rowlings’s faith stands on. Which is one reason why I avoided Harry Potter for so long.

What’s the difference between their magic? I don’t know. Maybe that is something I need to educate myself on. But that’s not what I see when I watch these movies.

What changed my mind about Harry Potter was going to see one of the movies in the theater with a bunch of my Christian mama friends. I didn’t see wizardry and witchcraft. I saw the elements I mentioned above. A kid who’s been destined to save the world from He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. Kids going through the things of life that lead us into maturity. Making moral decisions. I saw a lot of teachable moments for my own children.

Sometimes our kids will listen to and receive our testimonies of the mistakes we’ve made in the past and the things we’ve learned from them. Other times, they will receive it more from viewing or reading an epic story and our discussion of it afterward. Use entertainment as a way to teach your child.

4. Consider the age appropriateness of whatever your choosing to watch, read, or listen to.

I will never forget going to the theater to see any one of the Twilight movies. Especially Breaking Dawn. I took immediate notice of all the young girls in line with their mamas and thought to myself how I would never bring Hannah to see them with me. At the time, she was only nine or ten or thirteen, even. Nor would I allow her to read the books at that age. There was too much adult content within the pages and on the screen.

Let me point out that the only sex scenes in the series (There are two.) are between Edward and Bella … after they are married. And it is beautifully done, not pornographically. Okay for  my married adult woman eyes. Not okay, in my conviction, for my young daughter.

What age will your child be mature enough to watch or read the content? When will he or she be old enough to discern between fantasy and reality? Will your child want to immerse themselves in some aspect of the world that is displayed within the story, such as wizardry or witchcraft? Will you be able to lead them on another path, such as explaining that there is a difference between having those powers within yourself that are really being controlled by an outside force of evil and having the power of the Holy Spirit residing within you? Age appropriate. Teachable moments.

My kids didn’t see Harry Potter or Twilight until they were much older teens and watching with me.

One more aspect of this topic: Children mature at different rates. Not one is the same. If you have more than one kid, you are acutely aware of this phenomenon. Keep this in mind when choosing what to expose your kids to and when.

5. Again, use your discernment based upon your personal convictions.

Ultimately, the choice is yours, between you and God. Whatever you decide for your children and your family is what is, hopefully, right for you. If you have any check in your spirit, don’t ignore it. That’s usually how the Holy Spirit speaks to us. It may not be right in that moment, at that age, or ever. Use wisdom. Educate yourself first. Then decide for your kids.

Like me, maybe you will avoid particular movies, books, video games, social media, etc. when they are first released and wait to see what your friends or pastors or spouse decide before you expose yourself or your children to anything. Maybe that decision will be prolonged and then one day change. And that’s okay.

We, as mamas (and the dads out there), are ultimately responsible for training our children in the way they should go so that when they are old, they won’t depart from it. That is our God-given ordination. No one else is responsible for our children; we are. And it is up to us to make these decisions based on our beliefs. Trust God. Trust yourself. And train up those kids!