saferscreenhabits

Involved parents worry about their child or teen’s safety online. And rightly so. The nature of the internet means harmful content could come across their screen at any time. Dangerous situations seem to be lurking around every corner. So, many parents wonder, how often should I monitor my child’s smartphone? Should I check it daily? And is that really the best way to keep them from harm? 

In this episode, I confess that I don't check my child's phone the way many parents do. Saying that publicly on this podcast does make me feel a little vulnerable. I recognize I’m going against the grain. But, I hope, as I explain the principles behind my strategy and how online safety is always a top priority in our home, I feel confident in saying there are better (and less cumbersome) ways to keep kids safe than simply checking their smartphone.

Media Savvy Moms is a podcast by ParentsAware, an organization dedicated to helping parents talk to their children and teens about pornography and healthy sexuality. For complete show notes, visit http://parentsaware.info/index.php/podcast/.

Yes, it feels easier to say, I don’t want to go there, I don't want to talk about it. But we know sweeping tough issues under the carpet doesn’t make them disappear. In fact, it only increases the trauma. Children are hurting. Families are being torn apart. So, we’re going to be bold. We’re going to face this issue straight on. And we’re going to talk about pornography’s role in the rise of child-on-child sexual assault.

I’m so grateful to Heidi Olson, MSN, RN, CPN, SANE-P,  for joining me on the show this week. She is an absolute superhero. There’s nothing easy about her job. Every single day she is dealing with children’s disclosure of sexual assault.

Media Savvy Moms is a podcast by ParentsAware, an organization dedicated to helping parents talk to their children and teens about pornography and healthy sexuality. For complete show notes, visit http://parentsaware.info/index.php/podcast/.

Do you ever find yourself caught in a parenting slump? You know, when it feels like the weight of the world rests on your shoulders; but your last ounce of creativity just flew out the window. How do you get unstuck? Try harnessing the energy of the Family POWER Meeting.

If you’re a longtime listener of the podcast then you’ve heard me use the term Family POWER Meeting before. I think it's one of the most effective tools a family can use to foster better, more open communication. (And you know I’m all about open, honest communication!) But a Family POWER Meeting is more than that. It’s an energy booster, a problem solver, a solution generator, and effective crisis control.

Media Savvy Moms is a podcast by ParentsAware, an organization dedicated to helping parents talk to their children and teens about pornography and healthy sexuality. For complete show notes, visit http://parentsaware.info/index.php/podcast/.

Do you ever wonder … How can I protect my kids from pornography? Where do I even start? Does it make you hyperventilate a little? We get it. Let’s break it down and make a plan.

The porn industry. It’s big. It’s bad. And it’s coming after our kids. It’s no joke. We’ve learned enough in recent episodes about Pornhub and sexualized media to know this. Right? 

So where does that leave us? Shaking in our boots? Ready to live on a desert island with our kids with no technology? (A parent can dream … ) 

If we could give you a magic wand and make it all go away, we would. Gladly! We’d love to POOF all that porn right into oblivion! But nope. We can’t run away. This is parenting in a media saturated world. And we got this! Go team! 

It’s time to sit down and make a game plan. One step at a time. Tune in to learn the 4 essential steps to protect kids from pornography.

Media Savvy Moms is a podcast by ParentsAware, an organization dedicated to helping parents talk to kids and teens about pornography and healthy sexuality. For complete podcast notes, visit http://parentsaware.info/index.php/podcast/.