Many parents are unsure the way to ask a teenager about the potential consequences and dangers of “sexting,” that is, employing a telephone or computer to send naked pictures or videos. Sexting may be a growing phenomenon among teenagers (and sometimes even younger children). Many kids don’t understand the potential harm in sending revealing pictures to friends or others. for several parents, approaching the subject of sexting is difficult, especially if it’s hard to believe a toddler would even be exposed to the present.
The dangers of sexting are clear and sextoy. The practice has become popular during a relatively short period of your time and therefore the reaction to the cultural explosion has been mixed, and sometimes extreme. In some cases, children who are caught sexting are charged under kiddie porn laws. In other cases, the teenage humiliation of putting up with naked pictures being spread around has cause violence and suicide.
Talking about sexting with a toddler could also be tougher than talking about sex, drugs or the other difficult topic. repeatedly parents could also be unaware of what sexting actually is and the way prevalent it’s going to be. As teenagers are generally more knowledgeable and savvy than adults about cell phones and computers, it adds a further challenge for folks just to stay up with the newest technology and uses. And it’s never something a toddler are going to be wanting to discuss.
Just like with other difficult conversations, the time to speak together with your child about sexting is much before you think he or she could also be exposed thereto . repeatedly a toddler will hear of somebody else who has done it first and values can begin to be formed early as an outdoor observer. Or a toddler could also be pulled into it unexpectedly, as perhaps it begins as an innocent telephone or computer exchange, or private “joke,” and escalates from there.
Using the “indirect” approach could also be effective for the initial conversation. Citing a news article about sexting from TV, the web or the newspaper could also be the simplest thanks to “break the ice.” Using this vicarious experience will allow both parent and child to discuss the story without “personalizing” it. Directly asking a toddler whether he or she has ever done this or know someone who has, only puts the kid during a position to lie or get secretive (even subversive) with this subject and possibly others.
If a toddler is prepared to speak about sexting with a parent, then healthy active listening skills will help provide the security for the kid to process. Despite the surprise and confusion about this new phenomenon, a parent can accept what a toddler is saying (“everyone does it” or “it was alleged to be just her belly button”) without expressing judgement or disagreement. After a toddler has had the prospect to emote without judgement, then a parent can begin to elucidate consequences of sexting, perhaps again using indirect examples to assist explain.
