This week, a parent asks:

‘How do we stop our young people accessing so much p0rn?’

This question is really pertinent at the moment. If you are like me, you are at home, with your kids and letting them use devices to pass the time.

So I like how this question qualifies itself.

‘SO MUCH p0rn’.

This question kind of understands that the world is the way it is.

The internet is the internet.

Kids can find p0rn if they want. Or they might get shown it by someone else.

Or they might find it by accident.

So the first thing is to do all the usual things.

Make it harder to access.

Use parental controls! Monitor computer use.

Things like that.

But.

The most important bit here is the same ‘most important bit’ it so often is.

Having conversations with your kid.

We need to be having the kinds of conversations that will keep our kid coming back to us, and coming back, and coming back, when things get strange or difficult.

These kinds of chats are ones that keep the connection with your child.

Chats that don’t lecture.

Chats that are matter-of-fact, and open.

So that you’re a ‘resource’ your kid trusts.

Because when kids know they’ll get yelled at, or given out to, for doing X thing, they’re less likely to come to us.

So we need to stay open.

How?!?!

We have some scripts for you.

And some strategies.

And by the way – I know this is hard!

This stuff is super challenging.

Keeping your cool when your kid tells you they’ve seen p0rn?

Or discovering it on their phone?

That’s really hard.

You can learn to manage your emotions, and stay calm and open with your kid.

That’s a parenting superpower. 

x Sarah