Inoculate Kids From Porn Damage

Many parents worry that their children have been or will be exposed to pornographic material. They wonder how best to protect their children. Some wonder if avoiding the topic all-together is the best route (spoiler, this doesn't work). Kristen Jensen, author of Good Pictures, Bad Pictures, offers her expertise on The BTR.ORG Podcast and in the full transcript below. Inoculate Children From The Damage of Pornography By Talking To Them About It One powerful way to inoculate children from the effects of pornography is to speak only to them about what pornography is and why it is harmful. Equally important is for children to have a clear and concise plan for how to respond when they do encounter pornographic material.  There is a generation of people who did not talk about sexual acting-out, who did not talk about pornography, who did not openly speak about masturbation in their homes, and they are now a generation of unfaithful and abusive men that my listeners are married to. We know that the “not talking about it” doesn't work. I'm not sure what the consequences of talking about pornography with my children will be; I don't know what they will be 30 or 40 years out, but I do know that the other way does not work. Anne Blythe, founder of BTR.ORG Inoculate Children From The Damage of Pornography By Communicating a Clear Plan of Action When children do encounter pornographic material (and they most likely will), it is important for them to have simple steps in place, that they can take to counter the effects that the pornography can have on their brains and bodies. The first three steps from the Can Do plan is to help children know exactly how to respond when they see it: close your eyes, tell a trusted adult, and name it when you see it. All these things help the thinking brain reject pornography. The last two, the D and O, are distract yourself and always keep the thinking brain the boss. Kristen Jensen, author of Good Pictures, Bad Pictures Transparency is Key to Inoculating Children From The Damaging Effects of Pornography We don't shame the child. We teach the child the truth that this can make them really curious. And that it can also be like rat poison. It tastes really good to the rats but once they start eating it, it begins to destroy them. Kristen Jensen, author of Good Pictures, Bad Pictures When mothers tell their children the truth about pornography and its enticing effects on the human brain and body, children are better equipped to handle it when it comes their way and to act on their proactive plan. Inoculating Kids and Teens Against Sexting and Sextortion Children and teens are increasingly participating in or threatened into producing pornographic material of themselves. This crisis is real, and children and teens can adhere to the following steps to protect themselves from sexting an sextortion, as stated by Kristen Jensen: * If someone tries to show you bad pictures or videos, look away. Remember to turn, run, and tell. * If you ever see a bad picture or video, never show it to another child. There is research that shows that this is exactly what kids do. They show it to another child. This is rampant. When I first saw a pornographic magazine, who did I show? My little sister! So this is the most common thing for little kids to do. They need to be taught, outright, and specifically, never to show a bad picture to another child. * They should never let someone take a picture of them without their clothes on. If someone ever tries that, they should tell their mom or dad or a trusted adult. * Never take pictures or videos of yourself without clothes on. Kids these days are unfortunately producing pornography...