Mia & Ashley's MessageBoard

Navigating Relationships and Adult Internet Content with your Child

It’s a tricky subject, and one we tend to avoid. We’re realising that children are coming across explicit material at a much younger age and viewing it on average far more frequently.  A study with children aged 13-16 years old found that 90% of boys and 60% of girls had been exposed to it.  Almost half of boys aged 15-19 watch it every day (and 4% of girls).

Exposure to such material poses many challenges for young people, for the adults who live or work with them, and for society in general. 

How can you support your child to navigate this new reality and to develop relationships that are healthy, safe and respectful?

Maree Crabbe, a specialist on the topic, suggests that it is worth starting the conversation early with your child. It doesn’t need to be explicit, and you don’t even need to use confronting terminology;  you could simply start with ‘there are lots of things on the internet, and sometimes you might see things that you don’t mean to. If you ever accidentally see something, or maybe you’re curious and you go searching, that is okay. I want you to know that you can talk to me and I won’t be mad.”

Maree Crabbe suggests it’s better that children are learning about such matters from someone safe, like a parent or guardian, rather than through peers or by stumbling across the wrong thing online.

To find out how you can do more, go to:

http://www.itstimewetalked.com.au/parents/what-can-you-do/ - It discusses the following:

• Limit their exposure
• Encourage critical thinking
• Equip them with skills
• Inspire them

Mia Sartori & Ashley Wallace -  Student Welfare Officers