Tweens & Teens Archives -

[4-10] One Mom’s Mission to Help You Untangle The Tech with Your Teen

By Media Savvy Moms PodcastMay 20, 2022

Tell me if this sounds familiar? You love your kids, you love technology, but when they're together, you’re terrified of both. Ok, terrified might be too strong a word. But, when you stop and think about it, there’s just so much that can go wrong with kids and tech. Yet we live in a digital age. We're all on screens—for homework, entertainment, and everything in between. To survive emotionally, while raising kids in this media-saturated world, we gotta figure out how to untangle the tech, and fast! In this episode, I speak with Andrea Davis. Andrea is the mom of…

Parenting & Communication, Tweens & Teens

[4-9] The Art and Science of Talking to Teens About Pornography

By Media Savvy Moms PodcastApr 27, 2022

With the ease of access to today’s online pornography, it makes sense to have open, honest conversations with children from an early age. That’s the ideal. But it’s not often how it goes, right? In fact, you may have a teen already—and you’re just starting to think about how to broach this sensitive topic. You’re not alone. My guess is you want to know how to break the ice in a way that doesn’t feel awkward. You want to know the art and science of talking to teens about pornography! In this episode, I speak with Gabe Deem, international speaker…

Parenting & Communication, Tweens & Teens

[4-6] Empowering middle-schoolers to make safer media decisions

By Media Savvy Moms PodcastMar 16, 2022

Ever have trouble motivating your tween to follow the family rules around tech and screens? Kids this age need lots of love, guidance, and direction. Yet, they’re naturally prone to push boundaries and gravitate toward peer influence. That can feel scary for us moms and dads. But following their peers is not always bad. Especially if we can get our youth to mentor each other in positive ways. Imagine! Middle-schoolers empowering middle-schoolers to make safer media decisions! In this episode, I speak with Britany Homer, mom of four and executive director of End Exploitation Montana. Brittany is also the driving…

Safeguarding & Prevention, Tweens & Teens

[4-4] Want to Trust Your Teen Online? 3 Ways to Model Honesty

By Media Savvy Moms PodcastFeb 17, 2022

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…

Parenting & Communication, Tweens & Teens

[4-2] Dear Savvy: Is it worth starting the conversation with an older teen?

By Media Savvy Moms PodcastJan 19, 2022

We often wait for the perfect moment or the right age to talk to our kids about pornography and other tricky topics. Then, in a blink, our kids have grown up. The perfect moment never arrived. What do we do then? Are we too late? Is it worth starting the conversation with an older teen? This episode is part of our #DearSavvy series. Sometimes you just want a quick answer to a burning question. These shorter episodes are designed to give you just that. Tune in to the podcast to hear the whole scoop, and check out the show notes…

Dear Savvy, Parenting & Communication, Tweens & Teens

[3-40] Decoding boys and Their Journey Through Puberty

By Media Savvy Moms PodcastDec 08, 2021

I’ve said it a gajillion times. I’ll say it again. Our kids are waiting for us to start this conversation! But what if we get mixed signals in return? Like slammed doors. Or a son who suddenly grunts most of his words. What then? Is there a different approach for boys than girls? And how does a boy’s journey through puberty impact their response to pornography? In this episode, I talk with Cara Natterson, MD, who is a pediatrician, consultant, and New York Times, bestselling author. She’s written numerous books on parenting and puberty. Her latest work, Decoding Boys: New…

Honest Sex Talks, Parenting & Communication, Tweens & Teens

[3-39] I Don’t Think I Can Tell My Parents About This

By Media Savvy Moms PodcastDec 01, 2021

I’ve heard it both ways. Either “I could never tell my parents” or “telling my parents was the best thing I ever did.” Sometimes from the same kid! Sadly, it's often when our kids need the most help that they retreat and distance themselves from us. Think about it. If it’s hard for us to talk to our kids about pornography, imagine how they must feel! In this episode, I invite parents to listen while I speak directly to tweens and teens. The goal is to help teens understand where their parents are coming from a bit better. And…

Overcoming Pornography, Tweens & Teens

[3-38] Helping boys build identity and self-worth free from pornography

By Media Savvy Moms PodcastNov 24, 2021

Porn is a health issue that impacts EVERYONE—women and men, girls, and boys. Still, the statistics are clear that boys consume porn more frequently and earlier than girls. So while we work hard to dispel the myth that “only boys struggle” we certainly don’t want to minimize or dismiss their specific challenges. What do they need? How can we reach them? And how can we help boys build identity and self-worth free from pornography? In this episode, I talk with Sathiya Sam, the creator of DeepCleanTM, an addiction recovery program for men. Sathiya knows firsthand how early exposure can negatively…

Overcoming Pornography, Tweens & Teens

[3-31] Healthy (Not Awkward) Sex Talks with Children and Teens

By Media Savvy Moms PodcastSep 29, 2021

The sex talk has gotten a bad rap for decades. Awkward. Uncomfortable. Embarrassing. Does it have to be that way? Not at all. Many of our preconceptions about sex talks with children and teens are actually false. If we want to help our kids understand the harms of pornography, the truth is, we have to start with healthy and positive conversations about sex. Let’s find out how. In this episode, I am joined by Natasja Visser, the creator of Let’SEXplain, a program designed to help parents and teens talk openly about sex. Natasja’s approach is down-to-earth and inviting. With…

Honest Sex Talks, Tweens & Teens

OnlyFans: from Likes and Follows to Trafficking and Exploitation

By Media Savvy Moms PodcastAug 18, 2021

Ever heard of Only Fans? It’s an online platform where content creators get paid directly by their followers, a.k.a. fans, for the photos and videos they share. But the site is rife with porn and exploitation. And worse, it’s targeting young women in droves with promises of turning likes and follows into instafame and fortune. In this episode, I speak with Meghan Donevan, research director at Talita, a Swedish organization offering exit programs to trafficked and prostituted women. Together, we discuss the inherent problems with platforms such as OnlyFans and its impact on both individuals and society. Plus, strategies parents…

Getting Involved, Tweens & Teens