When it comes to talking to kids about pornography, what’s better, boldness or bravery? The answer is YES! With a topic that takes most of us far outside our comfort zone, we need to gather all the strength we can muster.  A phrase I often repeat is: be bold, be brave, be honest. I believe these are the secret sauce ingredients to building, not just our own confidence around tricky topics like pornography, but also in opening the doors and getting our kids to engage in the conversation. All three are necessary. Today, we’ll focus on the first two. 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/.

Media Savvy Moms

[3-33] Ready to Start Bold, Brave Conversations with Your Kids?

Did you grow up going to sleepovers? Do you have fond memories? Best friends, hanging out all night? Are you eager to carry on the tradition? Or would you rather it disappear altogether? What about the risks? Are they greater in the digital age? Or is there any way to ensure a safer sleepover experience? 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/.

[3-32] 5 Tips to Ensure A Safer Sleepover Experience

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 all her amazing practical tips I dare you to listen and not want to talk to your kids. Actually, that’s silly. Just go talk to your kids! Natasja makes it easy! 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/.

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

Raising kids in the digital age means there is no escaping the question about screens. Actually, it’s a long list of questions. How much screen time is ok? Does it depend on the activity? When should my child get their own tablet, device, or smartphone? What’s healthy? What’s not? And what is meant by clean vs toxic tech habits? In this episode I talk with Melanie Hempe, founder and executive director of ScreenStrong, an organization that offers a unique approach to eliminate childhood screen dependency. Together, we take a closer look at society’s acceptance of toxic screen use and discuss how to help parents and children reject the pressure to engage early with gaming, social media, and smartphones. 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/.

[3-30] Clean vs Toxic Tech Habits: Spotting the Difference

There’s a lot of pressure on parents to get their kids a smartphone and the latest social apps. What if you’re not ready to give in but your child’s insisting they need a phone to feel included. Is this a valid reason? If not, how do you say no?  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. 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/.  

Dear Savvy: My child feels excluded without a smartphone [3-29]

There’s a trend that has coaches worried. Participation in youth sports is down across the board. And the steady decline seems to correlate with the rise of smartphones and other technologies. For many coaches, the concern goes beyond the field, pitch, or pool and are urging parents to pay careful attention to their kids’ confidence, self-esteem, and body image. Sport is not just sport. It has immense physical and mental benefits too. In this episode, I am joined by Larissa Mills, founder of iparentgen.com, a parenting website and resource to help families balance the use of phones. Our conversation today centers around the often-overlooked value of sport for instilling confidence, improving self-esteem, and developing a healthy body image. 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/.

Sport vs Smartphone: Confidence, Self-Esteem, and Body Image

Back to school is the perfect time to review safety strategies with kids. One that’s simple and effective is asking your child or teen to come up with a list of trusted adults to add to their Safe Network.  Having a Safe Network is a concept we highlight in our 5 Body Safety Tips for Kids guide. That’s something you’ll want to print out and stick on your fridge. But in this episode, I walk through the details of helping kids choose who to put in their Safe Network and why it’s important to go to a variety of different sources to build your team.  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/.

Helping Kids Build a Safe Network as They Go Back to School

 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 their impact on both individuals and society. Plus, strategies parents can use to talk to their kids about sexual exploitation and how to safeguard them against traps like OnlyFans.  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/. 

OnlyFans: from Likes and Follows to Trafficking and Exploitation

In this episode, I share not one but six ways to transition casual conversations to the topic of pornography. These tips are designed to help you talk openly with extended family, neighbors, and close friends. We know that pornography grows in the shadows. It thrives in secrecy. When we stay silent, it wreaks havoc on people's lives. This is about shining a light on that threat. 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/.

6 Ways to Talk About the Threat of Pornography with Other Parents [3-25]

Filters installed. Devices monitored. Online safety taught. All of this, and children can still make poor choices—like sending nudes. So, how do we respond when we learn of this behavior?  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 for helpful tools and information. 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/.   Dear Savvy: Help! My child is sending nudes. What should I do? I’m shocked. My daughter is only eleven-years-old. I did everything by the books. I even kept her phone at night, and this still happened.   

Dear Savvy: My middle schooler is sending nudes. What should I do?

We know the term cyberbullying. So do our kids. But what about cyberstalking and sextortion? Not so much. Yet, these are serious online threats putting more kids at risk than most of us realize. What do we need to know to empower kids to be internet safe?  In this episode, I speak with Matt Richardson, an awesome dad of two and founder of the Digital Empowerment Project Canada. Matt is OSINT and SOCINT credentialed. Which means he spends his work hours investigating internet intelligence and decoding information in an effort to reduce harms and end online exploitation. 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/.

How Dads Can Empower Kids to be Internet Safe with Matt Richardson

Dandelions. Clover. Weeds! Most agree that these invaders are to be eradicated from our lawns and gardens ASAP. If not they will spread and take over. Similarly, we want to root out pornography before it takes hold. Today, Lisa Whitsitt and I are having a conversation about weeds and pornography. Lisa is our Director of Educational Outreach and is very involved in developing community connections for Parents Aware. She is also proactive in reaching out to government leaders to advocate for legislative change to protect children from online harms.   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/.

Root Out Pornography with Care, Attention, and Community Awareness

Do you know a teen who is struggling to quit porn? The reality is that many kids get caught in a porn trap. They want to quit. They try to quit. Yet, they find themselves returning again and again. Imagine, what if there was a tool that could help fortify teens against pornography? In this episode, I am joined by Clay Olsen, Co-founder of Fight The New Drug (FTND), a youth movement dedicated to raising awareness on the harmful effects of pornography. Clay is also the Founder of Fortify, a recovery tool designed to support anyone—youth and adults—seeking a future free from pornography. 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/.

Amazing Resources to Fortify Teens Against Pornography with Clay Olsen

We keep scratching our heads trying to figure out why young kids are sexting. But the fact is the formula is pretty basic: (curious kids + digital devices) x (sexualized media) = sexting normalized. So, the question is not if I need to have this conversation but how do I talk to my child about sexting without being awkward.  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 for helpful tools and information. If you’d like to submit a question, click here to Contact Us. 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/.

Dear Savvy: How do I talk to my child about sexting without being awkward?

Porn harms families. No question there. So what do you do when a parent struggles with sexual addiction? Instinct may be to keep it hidden. Your spouse knows—but not the children. You reason the truth would be too painful. Better that they never find out. And yet, experience and research show that children actually suffer more from the weight of hidden truths than they do from careful and honest disclosure. Tara McCausland, Director of Outreach for SA Lifeline joins me this week to discuss this very sensitive topic. SA Lifeline is a non-profit foundation that provides education, resources, and a 12-Step group for those suffering from pornography and sexual addiction. As well as for family members who’ve experienced betrayal trauma in the wake of addiction. 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/.

What to tell kids when a parent struggles with sexual addiction with Tara McCausland

Who knew honest conversations about parenting and pornography could be so laid-back and fun? Join Melody and Marilyn for a series of chats and interviews to help parents tackle this challenging topic with their kids. These two ladies take a light-hearted, down-to-earth approach you will love. With more than a decade of experience between the two of them in the Movement to End Sexual Exploitation, Marilyn Evans (founder of Parents Aware) and Melody Bergman (blogger at Mama Crossroads) have an abundance of resources to share, and a thriving network of guest experts to bring on the show! Topics include: prevention, exposure, addiction, healing, communication strategies, technology & filters, and more. Parent questions are welcome and encouraged.

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Media Savvy Moms

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