Children today experience a humongous amount of digital information, which includes sexual content far beyond their age. Children who experience sexual content at an early age, tend to experience negative effects on their mental health, and their relationship understanding in the long-term. However, help is always at hand. Here are 6 tips to prevent young children from viewing sexual content at an early stage….
Limit exposure
The most important method to protect children from inappropriate online activities, involves restricting their access to sexual content in the first place. Parents should install blocking software on every device children operate, such as smartphones, tablets and computers. Schools need to establish stringent blockers, while providing staff training for monitoring student online activities. This way, children will have less chance of stumbling upon sexual content when screen time is limited, and smartphone use is delayed until they reach age 16.
Teach Children About Body Safety and Boundaries
Children need to receive sexual education (not to be confused with sexual content online) starting from a young age. Parents should teach their children about their body, while explaining which areas need privacy protection. Educate them about “OK touches” such as family hugs and medical assistance, versus “not OK touches” which create fear and discomfort or confusion. Children need to understand their body ownership includes the right to deny any unwanted physical contact, even from people they know. Children must learn to approach trustworthy adults whenever someone makes them feel uncomfortable.
Maintain Open and Honest Communication
Children require a secure space to share their confusing, or worrisome concerns. Parents must build spaces where their children feel secure to ask questions, without self-doubt or embarrassment. Children who experience sexual content through intentional or accidental means, should be able to reach out to an adult for help. Parents, along with teachers, should provide suitable information about pornography risks to children while leading them to reliable support resources.
Educate Children About Online Risks
Apart from inappropriate sexual content, children can also be exploited online. Children require education on how to identify risky situations which occur online, such as grooming activities and inappropriate messages. Educational institutions need to teach online safety lessons to their students, while parents should hold frequent discussions about digital perils. Children need to learn both the importance of keeping personal data and photos confidential, and the process of reporting situations which cause them discomfort. Online platforms should establish protective measures which include age controls, along with blocking unknown contacts.
Create a Family Media Plan
A protective approach for children involves establishing specific media guidelines. Parents should choose suitable content for their children including movies, games and websites, and enable parental control features on all devices, and streaming platforms. Parents need to watch or review content with their children, and provide educational and entertaining content that does not contain sexual material. Revisiting media rules periodically with discussions, helps children understand safe viewing habits while minimizing unintentional exposure.
Recognize Warning Signs and Seek Help
Children may display signs of distress and problematic behaviors, following their exposure to sexual content. The warning signs of exposure to sexual content in children include anxiety, along with fear and confusion and sexual acting out behaviors. Parents and caregivers need to monitor behavioral changes in children, and should seek professional assistance whenever necessary. Training programs together with resources exist to help adults detect warning signs, which enables them to provide suitable assistance to children.Sources: Institute for Family Studies The HealthyChildren.org
