Entertainment is Discipling Our Children

While you're fighting for family values at the dinner table, the enemy's already moved into your living room — disguised as a 12-minute cartoon.

Let’s Get Uncomfortably Honest for a Sec

Here’s the thing nobody really wants to say out loud: your kids are being discipled. Every day. Not necessarily in Sunday school, not just at home, but in pixels, plotlines, and pop songs.

That sweet, catchy YouTube short? It’s preaching a worldview.
The “harmless” cartoon? It’s got a doctrine.
The video game with slick graphics and endless quests? Yep, theology included. And the kicker? It’s working. Better than most churches, and better than most parents.

That’s the uncomfortable truth Nathan and D’Lytha — creators of the faith-filled family film Aria Appleton — didn’t sugarcoat in a recent conversation. Their words hit hard:

“Entertainment is discipling our children — and more often, it’s doing a better job than the Church. That should alarm us.”

Yeah. Ouch.

The Real Battle Isn’t in D.C., It’s on Disney+

We talk about culture wars like they’re being fought in courtrooms and school board meetings (and they are), but meanwhile, the frontlines have quietly crept into our living rooms, bedrooms, and backseats.

Kids are watching more content than ever, often unsupervised, and soaking up ideas faster than you can say “algorithm.”

We’re talking:

60% of their media from YouTube
Entire worldviews shaped by TikTok “life advice”
Morality lessons from fictional villains who get sympathy arcs
“Representation” redefined to mean anything but biblical truth

And while we’re working our 9-to-5 (or let’s be honest, 7-to-6), those screens don’t clock out. They’re teaching your kids what to love, what to laugh at, what to believe, and what to worship.

Three Big Problems (And You’ve Probably Felt All of Them)

Time:
Most parents are maxed out. By the time dinner’s made and homework’s halfway done, you’re lucky if you can stay awake through a 10-minute bedtime story. Competing with 5+ hours of content a day? That’s a tough gig.
Authority:
Let’s not pretend culture hasn’t tried to sideline moms and dads altogether. Schools, celebrities, influencers: they’re the new “trusted voices.” Parents? Just annoying obstacles with screen time limits.
Volume & Strategy:
The entertainment industry isn’t winging it. They know exactly what they’re doing — from dopamine-triggering seven-second edits in toddler shows to characters designed to hook emotion and normalize dysfunction.

The goal? Capture the heart. Shape the mind. And never let go.

But Here’s the Hope (and the Challenge)

It’s tempting to respond with censorship and content filters. And yes, boundaries are essential. But Nathan and D’Lytha argue it’s not enough to play defense. We need offense. And not just “safe” media, but pro-God media.

What’s the difference?

“Clean” avoids the bad.
“Pro-God” points to the Good.

Their film Aria Appleton isn’t just family-friendly fluff. It tackles real-life topics like adoption, bullying, and identity — all wrapped in humor, heart, and a faith-forward foundation. Kids like it. Parents love it. Heaven rejoices. Win-win-win.

What Can We Actually Do About It?

Okay, now that we’ve all had our moment of “yikes,” here’s where we get intentional, strategic, prayerful, and proactive.

Here are some ideas straight from the conversation:

Set Tech Boundaries:
- Create a charging station — no phones in bedrooms.
- Designate screen-free zones (like dinner time, car rides, etc).
- Have tech “detox” weekends. The world won’t end.
Model It Yourself:
- Want your kids off devices? Start by putting yours down.
- Be the example. Not the exception.
Reframe Tech Use:
- Instead of just limiting screen time, transform it.
- Start a family YouTube channel about your faith journey.
- Let your kids make videos telling Bible stories or encouraging their peers.
- Use tech as a tool to create, not just consume.

Or in the words of the Apostle Paul (and Nathan),

“Whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things.”
(Philippians 4:8)
And then post them.

Final Thought: You Don’t Have to Lose This Battle

We may not be able to shield our kids from every lie the world hurls at them. But we can drown out the noise with truth, beauty, and stories that glorify God instead of mock Him.

The real question isn’t if your child will be discipled.
It’s by whom.

So if Hollywood gets a seat at the table, make sure you’ve already served the truth first — with love, with laughter, and with unwavering conviction. The stories we tell matter. The stories we allow into our homes matter even more. Let’s write better ones.

Watch or listen to the interview!