Now that you're aware of some of the dangers your kids face every day you can better prepare yourself to deal with any issues that may arise. But how do you know if there is a problem and how do you prevent a problem from happening? Here are some tips from the "Protecting Those You love In AN X-Rated World" book that will help.

Here are a few tips for what to look for when trying to prevent pornography or its influence from getting into your home...some of the things outlined are obvious and others are not so obvious.

If you wondering if your child is looking at inappropriate content online or offline here are some signs to look for:

In Girls:

An overnight personality change when it comes to hair, makeup, or clothing. Also be aware of a change in who she hangs out with or socializes with. Girls who are overexposed to subtle forms of pornography like that found in magazines, movies, and advertisements will want to dress more sexy, wear more makeup, high heels, etc. More about this in "Protecting Those You love In AN X-Rated World".
It may sound nosey or even like a violation of privacy but if you want to know what your teen or pre-teen daughter is thinking, doing or thinking about doing read her notes, journal, diary and text messages. When guilt creeps up on you remember that you're not doing this to discipline her but to protect her! One mom learned that her thirteen year old daughter was sneaking out of her window each night by reading a note she left in her jeans to be laundered. She felt guilty for reading her notes and instead of addressing the problem head on chose to simply monitor the window...three months later her daughter informed her she was pregnant...AT THIRTEEN! More about this in "Protecting Those You love In AN X-Rated World".

In Boys:

More time spend locked behind their bedroom door. Be especially concerned if he has Internet access in his room! Boys tend to keep their activities in this area private. More about this in "Protecting Those You love In AN X-Rated World".
More time spent online late at night or when your not home and more effort pt into preventing you from seeing what they are looking at by locking their screen name, etc. (Some kids figure their parents can't figure out how to get into their accounts. More about this in "Protecting Those You love In AN X-Rated World".

Be on the Look Out For The Obvious And NOT So Obvious Like...

The all knowing friends! Your kids friends influence them more than anything else in their lives. If their friends are from families that do not have the same beliefs, rules and values you do, your kid is getting an education in itself! 

How To Counter It: COMMUNICATE! it takes DAILY deprogramming of what the all knowing friend fills their head with. More about this in "Protecting Those You love In AN X-Rated World".
Sex In The Marketplace - Kids are exposed to an overtly sexual marketplace every day! Clothing, movies, video games even magazines and books for teens are loaded with subtle sex messages.
How To Counter It: First explain why you don't want them purchasing and using the product i.e. wearing sexy clothing, etc. Then... start setting boundaries TODAY on what you will permit them to buy and not buy.  YOUR THE PARENT - MAKE THE RULES AND STICK TO THEM! More about this in "Protecting Those You love In AN X-Rated World".
Books, Magazines, Video Games - Have you read some of the stuff put out for "kids" lately? If not, you have no idea what your missing. For instance, an advertisement in Seventeen magazine (summer 2006) which is for young teen girls advertised a "Pubic Hair Shaving Template Kit"  FOR A TEEN GIRL????
How To Counter It: KNOW what they are reading, watching, playing and if it something you wouldn't let your pastor read, watch or play...DON'T BUY IT! So many parents give into the pressure of their kids requests for games, books and movies without ever checking them out first. This is a BIG mistake!More about this in "Protecting Those You love In AN X-Rated World".

 

Check out the entire B.O.L.O. list and how to counter these things in the "Protecting Those You love In AN X-Rated World"book!