Topic
Body safety and the internet
Talking about the body, safe and unsafe touch, pornography, online grooming and sextortion, and what to do if a child is harmed.
Articles
- How to Talk to a Young Child About Their Body: Real Words, Private Parts and No ShameHow to talk to a child aged 2 to 7 about their body: why to use the real names, how to explain which parts are private, what to say at bath time, and how to do it calmly in any culture or family.
- Should I Make My Child Kiss and Hug Relatives? Respect for Elders and the Child's BodyYour child won't kiss grandma or hug an uncle, and the family is offended. Why forcing affection sends the wrong message, how to keep good manners and respect for elders, and what to say to relatives.
- "Where Do Babies Come From?" Awkward Questions From Children, Answered by AgeYour child asks where babies come from, or another awkward question about bodies, at the worst moment. What to say at 3, at 6, at 9 and at 12, the three mistakes parents make, and how to answer without lying or saying too much.
- My Child Has Seen Pornography: Signs, and What to Do in the First HourSigns that a young child may have seen pornography, why it often happens by accident, and what to say and do in the first hour, without shouting, shaming or banning every screen in the house.
- I Found Out My Teenager Watches Porn. What Now?You found porn in your teenager's history or on their phone. What not to say, how to have the talk without humiliating them, what to explain about real relationships and consent, and when it's more than curiosity.
- How to Protect Your Child From Pornography Online: Settings and the Early TalkA practical checklist to protect children from pornography online: home Wi-Fi filters, phone and tablet settings, safe search, gaming and app controls, where devices live at night, and the early talk that works better than any filter.
- How Does Pornography Affect Teenagers? What We Know, Without the PanicWhat pornography can do to teenagers' ideas about sex, bodies, consent and relationships, what the research can and can't say, and what parents can actually do about it.
- Sextortion: If Your Teenager Is Being Blackmailed Over a PhotoSomeone has an intimate image of your teenager and is threatening to share it unless they pay or send more. What sextortion is, what to say to your child first, what to do in the next hour, and where to report it and get images removed.
- Roblox, Discord and Chat in Games: What Parents Need to CheckIs Roblox safe? Is Discord safe for kids? The real risk in games and chat apps is strangers who message children. What to check in the settings, the family rules that work, and the signs to watch for.
- Warning Signs a Child Is Being Harmed: What to Notice, and What to Do NextSigns that a child may be being abused or harmed, in their body, behavior and mood, why one sign alone proves nothing, how to ask gently, and who to call if you're worried.
- If a Child Tells You They Were Abused: What to Say, What Not to Say, and Who to CallYour child, or another child, tells you someone hurt or touched them. What to say in that moment, what not to do, how to write down what they said, and who to call next, wherever you live.
- Safe and Unsafe Touch: Teaching Your Child to Say No and TellHow to teach a child about safe and unsafe touch without frightening them: the underwear rule, saying no to adults, the difference between surprises and secrets, choosing trusted adults, and practising it in play.
- Online Grooming: Signs Your Child Is Being Targeted, and What to DoHow online grooming usually works, the signs a child or teenager may be targeted through games, social media or chat apps, what to say to them, and how to save evidence and report it, wherever you live.
- My Teenager Talks to a Chatbot Like a Friend or a Partner: What Parents Should KnowYour teen spends hours chatting with a chatbot companion, a virtual friend or "boyfriend" or "girlfriend" app. Why teenagers turn to chatbots, the signs it has gone too far, and how to talk about it without a ban that pushes it into hiding.