Protecting children is an important aspect of being a father. One of my most significant responsibilities as a dad is to look ahead to the risks and dangers that threaten my family. This plays itself out in many ways, from making sure doors and windows are secure before I go to bed to pointing out ushers and security personnel at hockey games so my kids know who to approach if we get separated. But some threats are much more insidious. The rise in use of digital pornography, which is readily accessible to anyone at any age, stands out to me as a clear and present danger to my family.
We need to teach our kids the difference between love and lust so they know porn is a cheap imitation.How do we protect our families from this menace? There are a few different battlefields to consider. We need to reach out for help to overcome our own addictions. We need to teach our kids the difference between love and lust so they know porn is a cheap imitation. Most importantly, we need to know that we don’t fight this battle alone. Some people work diligently to provide us with the tools we need to mount a proper defense against this threat. And I’d like to equip you with some of those tools. If protecting children from porn is important to you, you need these 4 resources.
Fight the New Drug
Fight the New Drug is a research-based site pulling together science, facts, and personal stories to help people understand the damage caused by pornography use and addiction. FTND describes in detail the ways in which pornography harms the mind, the heart, and the world at large—and it’s all backed with research and statistics from a variety of sources.
Covenant Eyes
One of the biggest differences in pornography usage today versus 20 or 30 years ago is how the Internet and our handheld devices have made it so much more readily available. While many developers have made an effort to create filters for pornography, these tend either to filter out too much content or not nearly enough. This is where Covenant Eyes comes in. For a monthly fee, this software can help us keep an eye on what our kids are consuming or give us the means to allow others to hold us accountable.
Good Pictures, Bad Pictures
There are a lot of conversations that are intimidating but necessary for us to have with our kids. Talking to them about pornography is one of them. This is why Kristen Jensen’s Good Pictures, Bad Pictures has been a tremendous support. It’s a book you can read with your kids on this difficult topic that includes discussion questions at the end of each chapter alongside solid research and an action plan for moments when they see pornographic material.
Integrity Restored
I’m sure that some of you reading this might be thinking, “How can I start protecting children from pornography? I’m fighting the addiction myself!” But Dr. Peter Kleponis is a licensed clinical therapist who has a number of resources online at Integrity Restored. Among his many solid offerings is a seven-point plan for recovery. It’s a good place to start for anyone who feels like they are losing the battle against porn addiction.
Sound off: Can you name some other resources that will help us protect our kids from pornography?
Huddle up with your kids and ask, “What do you think is the biggest danger in your life right now?”