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Thinking about all the things that could go wrong for kids online is going to stir up some big worries and concerns. Yet, kids are online every day. Whether it’s a smartphone, tablet, gaming console, or school-issued laptop, we want to trust that they will be safe. That our child or teen will make smart decisions when they’re in these digital spaces. The best way to arrive at that trust is to model honesty in our own communication.
Sure, it can be tempting to attempt to track your teen’s every move on every digital device. Or the opposite, close your eyes and hope for the best! But those aren’t real solutions. The truth is neither will stop the worry nor prevent the real harms targeting kids online. Open, honest communication is the solution. It is the magic wand.
Model honesty
Trust grows as we get better at modeling honesty in our own communication. Being BOLD, BRAVE, and HONEST really are the secret sauce ingredients to great conversations. If you want to improve your communication on sensitive topics, I recommend enrolling in Get Off the Fence: Confidently Talk to Your Child or Teen About Pornography. This course is specifically designed to give you the tools to talk openly and honestly, in six, easy to follow lessons. Learn more here.
In this episode:
- Trust is built. Like any training, it requires time, patience, and effort.
- Growth and development. Check your fears and focus on the facts.
- Screen safety. Be transparent. Set rules and boundaries together.
- Share feelings. Admit when certain conversations make you uncomfortable.
Compass challenge
To help you start an honest conversation this week, choose from the following questions. Or come up with one or two of your own!
- What was the most interesting thing that you watched online today?
- What was most upsetting? How did you handle it?
- When was the last time that you saw pornography/private pictures online?
- Where have you seen any inappropriate pictures online?
- Which popular apps do you think are the most dangerous for kids/teens?
- Why do you think that is?
Download our FREE guide
Looking for a better way to protect kids from dangerous content online? Help build media resilience with our Quick Guide to Safer Screen Habits. Download your FREE pdf here. https://bit.ly/Quick-Guide-to-Safer-Screen-Habits
Thanks for listening! If you enjoyed the show, please leave a positive review or tell a friend!
Links/Resources
NEW COURSE – Get Off the Fence: Confidently Talk to Your Child or Teen About Pornography
Ep. #3-33, Ready to Start Bold, Brave Conversations with Your Kids?
Ep. #3-40, Decoding boys and Their Journey Through Puberty with Cara Natterson, MD
FORTIFY – Is your teen struggling with pornography? Click here to check out Fortify – FREE for youth!
BARK – Want help monitoring your kids’ apps and social media? Click here for a FREE 30-day trial of the Bark App or download it at the app store and use our promo code: MEDIASAVVY
COVENANT EYES – Need great filtering software for your internet and devices? Click here to check out Covenant Eyes.
*Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means, at no additional cost to you, Parents Aware/Media Savvy Moms receives a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Thanks for helping to support us in our mission to protect families from the harms of pornography.
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