What Every Parent Should Know About Porn
Contributed by Cheryl Roth
I remember when one of my sons was in second grade. The last thing on my mind back then was to talk to him about pornography. Then he came home from playing in the neighborhood one day and told me an older boy showed him some pictures of naked women.
I became much more careful about whose house he could go to after that. But these days it’s not so simple. Even young children have cell phones, tablets and laptops available to them without supervision. Pornography is freely available wherever there is an internet connection.
Early Exposure Increases Addiction Rate
Internet porn is a lot more aggressive than magazine publications of the past. Not only is it available for free anywhere, all the time, regardless of age; but the porn industry actually targets youth. They know what all parents should know; “get them young and you’ve got them hooked”.
Internet pornography is highly addictive for anyone, much more so for curious children who don’t understand where it’s leading them. Before they have a chance to grow up and naturally develop healthy relationships, they get stuck in unhealthy sexual behavior. Internet porn is the invisible pedophile.
Children Need Earlier Sex Education at Home
Parent’s have always struggled with talking to children about sex. We want to avoid it so much that we’ve given that responsibility to the public school system. But 5th grade is already too late, and the topic of porn is not even touched.
Parents need to begin a conversation about love in a natural way at an early age. It starts with simple things like right touch, wrong touch, and modesty. Be open to their questions by not reacting in a negative or surprised way. Be prepared to give them facts, and share your values in a non-judgmental way.
5 Things Teens Wish Their Parents Knew About Porn
The video below is a presentation given by Clay Olsen from Fight the New Drug. In it, he highlights 5 things teens wish their parents knew about today’s pornography culture. He gives a clear explanation of the plight all young people face, and explains some of the things parents can do to help and protect their children. Watch the whole thing, your children will be grateful that you did.
More Resources:
Get “How to Talk to Your Kids About Porn” from Fight the New Drug
Get the Book: “Good Pictures, Ban Pictures“
Learn how to talk with your kids about love, sex, and porn at Utah Coalition Against Pornography
What Now?
Check out our recovery programs, become an Accountability Partner, or donate to support our mission!
Our programs will train your sexual integrity and help you quit porn for good.
Help someone overcome a porn habit and gain sexual integrity.
Contribute to creating a culture of sexual integrity and heavenly sexual intimacy.