Safeguarding & Prevention Archives

Knowledge: Power Against the Wave of Pornography

By MarilynSep 28, 2017

My kid drops a piece of toast on the floor. You bet he’s going to pick it up and use it. The 5-second rule is applied …ignorance is bliss. Never mind the average kitchen floor contains 860 bacteria/square inch! Knowledge is power ...until panic sets in! To be honest, I’m not too concerned about toast on the floor. But when something really threatens my child’s health and safety I want to be in the know! Easy access to online pornography is such a threat. But sometimes knowing the issue can send us into panic mode. What can we do to…

Parenting Survival Tips, Safeguarding & Prevention

How My Son Taught Me that Modesty is an Attitude

By MarilynJul 13, 2017

A major pet peeve of mine is whenever the topic of modesty is brought up, it usually deteriorates quickly into making lists of what girls should and should not wear. There is little if any mention of how modesty relates to boys and their self-image. The truth is, modesty is an attitude that can greatly improve both girls' and boys' self-esteem. Recently, an experience with my youngest son challenged my perspective on modesty and presented me with a teaching opportunity. One Saturday morning It was one of those days when the boys were annoyed with each other just for breathing…

Parenting Survival Tips, Safeguarding & Prevention

Three Proven Concepts to Get You Off the Fence and Talking to Your Kids About Porn

By MarilynJun 02, 2017

Related: Three Proven Concepts to Get You Off the Fence and Talking to Your Kids About Porn This post is an adaptation of one I originally wrote for Strength to Fight. A recent experience made me realize it's worth repeating. Even when we know a conversation needs to be had we often feel stuck in our tracks. I will share three proven concepts that helped me get off the fence and start talking to my own kids about the dangers of porn. Shaking my hand he said, “That was so great. Thanks for talking about this. I just know it’s so important.” This…

Parenting & Communication, Safeguarding & Prevention

Five Things Kids Need Parents to Know About Anime

By Lacy BentleyMay 04, 2017

Related Podcast: Ep. #1-19, Anime: Gateway to Porn? There’s no denying that kids of all ages love anime cartoons. In our home Pokemon has been a perennial favourite, and I know we’re not alone! Last summer that became evident, as thousands of people took to the streets with the Pokemon Go app; living the dream of finally becoming a real-life Pokemon trainer. What little I do know While my experience with anime is limited to a few glimpses of Saturday morning cartoons, I understand that there is a whole other world of anime I know very little about. In fact…

Parenting Survival Tips, Safeguarding & Prevention

Fair Warning and A Fighting Chance [Family Resource]

By MarilynApr 20, 2017

Recently, my kids and I revisited Good Pictures Bad Pictures —a book by Kristen Jenson. It's really the first tool I used to teach my kids about the harmful effects of pornography. Now, I am even more in love with the book. And I am going to tell you why I think every parent needs to have a copy of this amazing resource in their home. All kids deserve fair warning and a fighting chance I am going to let you in on a secret. I have really good kids. I’m not trying to brag, but they are the kind…

Safeguarding & Prevention

Proactive Parenting: Teaching Young Children Resilience Against Pornography

By MarilynMar 23, 2017

Can preschool-age children be taught to reject pornography? Absolutely! This was confirmed to me when I met with Jane. We were introduced through a mutual friend who knew of our shared passion for talking openly about the harms of pornography. Jane is a delightful young mom with a two-year-old son and a four-year-old daughter. I listened carefully while she shared with me how she is teaching her own kids to reject pornography. The interview below is a paraphrased version of our conversation. I hope you come to appreciate Jane’s wisdom as much as I do. Interview: First things first PA:…

Safeguarding & Prevention

5 Compelling Reasons I Blog About Pornography Awareness

By MarilynFeb 16, 2017

A few experiences of late have caused me to want to put down in words the reason why I do what I do. Why did I create Parents Aware? Read to the end to discover my top five reasons for blogging about pornography awareness. At the doctor’s office I am meeting a new doctor today. Which means filling out standard medical forms again. I come to the question that has the least to do with my health but has probably caused me the most grief for the past 22 years. What is your occupation? This is not a blog about…

Getting Involved, Safeguarding & Prevention

Help Kids Reject Pornography: 5 Powerful Parenting Tips

By MarilynJan 13, 2017

Over the past several months I have had the opportunity to meet frequently with Claudine Gallacher, writing coach of the best-selling children’s book, Good Pictures Bad Pictures. Do I consider this good fortune? Absolutely! As a regular contributor and editor of the Protect Young Minds blog, Gallacher has gathered a wealth of knowledge regarding how children respond to pornography. Each time we meet I make a point to pick her brain for tidbits and advice on how parents can help keep kids safe from online pornography. With her permission, I'm sharing her advice on how to give your children the…

Safeguarding & Prevention

4 Steps to Creating an Effective Internet Safety Contract with your Family

By MarilynSep 12, 2016

The value of creating an Internet Safety Contract is often overlooked by many families. For starters, it's an incredibly simple way to start a discussion with children about a number of online dangers, not the least of which is pornography. The start of a new school year is an excellent time to establish and review these safety guidelines. In fact, your children have probably brought home a letter for you to sign with them, acknowledging that you both know what it means to use the technology at school appropriately. We certainly did. It was sent home on the first day…

Parenting & Communication, Safeguarding & Prevention

How Talking about the News Can Protect Kids from Pornography

By MarilynJul 21, 2016

Is the news getting you down lately? Here’s clever a trick! Use today’s bad news to bring about positive results in your family relationships. At your next sit down meal mention something that’s causing you concern from current news/events and ask your kids if they know anything about it. Let them respond in their own words, then see where the discussion leads. You may be surprised how many topics you will cover with one news story. Building strong bonds The fact is, any time you can have an honest and frank discussion with your kids, regardless of the topic, you…

Parenting & Communication, Safeguarding & Prevention