It is common for most teenage boys and girls to come across pornography at some point, either by accident or on purpose. Watching pornographic material on the internet is not deemed fit for children, especially the younger ones. In fact, pornography is considered to be one of the biggest online dangers for children on the internet. If a child develops a habit of watching porn at young age chances are, he/she will most likely continue watching it throughout their lifespan. 

This habit will stick with them throughout their adolescence, damaging their mental and physiological development. While it may be difficult to prevent your child from watching porn altogether, there are some ways in which parents can make them aware of the dangerous consequences of watching porn before they can indulge into watching it.

Parents can help protect their child from the possibly damaging and life-altering effects of pornography by talking to their child about it and explaining to them what it really is and how it can negatively affect them.

Some parents might feel embarrassed while talking to their child about pornography but there’s nothing to be ashamed of. In fact, broach this subject just like you would broach the topics of sexuality and relationships. Talking to your child about porn is the best way to protect them from getting influenced by it.

Here are some ways parents can adopt while talking about pornography with their teens.

Do Not Remain Silent

The first and biggest mistake parents do is remain hushed about pornography and do not talk about it. It is your job as a parent to make your child aware of the purpose of sexual desire. If topics like sexuality, relationships, and porn are not openly discussed with children, the consequences will create problems in the future.

Several kinds of research have shown that teens who are comfortable talking about sex and porn with their parents are more likely to avoid teen sex. Parents who proactively teach their children about sex basically make their children comfortable enough to talk about important issues of their lives with them whenever they want.

Prepare Before Talking

It can be quite upsetting and unnerving to realize that your teen has been watching porn repeatedly. It is never recommended to lash out at your teen as soon as you catch them red-handed. Never speak to them immediately. In fact, you should always take a day or two to decide what you really need to say to your child.

Parents should always prepare before they talk to their children about porn because it’s a sensitive topic. You may delay the conversation to the point when you feel you are ready to discuss it out with your child. Time is needed to process what you would say to them and how you would say it. Always take enough time to rehearse the conversation in your head before talking about it to your child.

Listen to Your Teen 

There could be several reasons as to why a child may start watching porn. When you confront your child and ask them questions, always give them enough time to respond before jumping to any conclusion. You should never be quick to fill the awkward silence with your assumptions. Wait for them to answer first.

You need to listen to your child and understand their perspective with a compassionate heart. Do not pass them angry stares or make them feel you are angry, even though you are. Allow your eyes to communicate warmth and tenderness so your child can open up to you and feel comfortable in your presence. This way your child will explain to you about their motivations for watching porn. 

Use Parental Controls

Knowing exactly what your child is doing on the internet and what sites they are visiting can be quite helpful. The more information you have about their online activity, the less vague the conversation about porn will be. When you question your child about their online activity, they will feel less burden while explaining to you everything from start till the end.

You should use parental controls to keep a watch on your child’s online activity. When parental controls are set in place, you will be able to monitor their online activity and also find out whether or not they are viewing porn. If they are, you can note down the websites they have visited and put a block or filter on them.