It is quite popular to blame social decay on “the media,” which glorify violence, insolence and irresponsibility. But the question must be asked: Who are the gatekeepers of media? Who chooses what books to read, which magazines to browse, which channels to watch, what movies to see, and what websites to surf? The answer, of course, is parents.

When parents abdicate this responsibility of selecting, embracing and celebrating the good, true and beautiful through these diverse media, then toxic waste can and does flow through these channels into the homes and lives of young children. That this happens when parents abdicate their responsibility is itself a demonstration that the responsibility belongs to them, and that they wield unmatched influence on the nurture of their children.