Books to assist you with speaking to your children about Human Sexuality:
- Truth and Meaning of Human Sexuality vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/family/documents/rc_pc_family_doc_08121995_human-sexuality_en.html
- Beyond the Birds and the Bees by Gregory Popcak, MSW, LCSW
- Questions Kids ask about Sex by J. Thomas Fitch, M.D. (not Catholic book, but very close)
- Human Sexuality; A Catholic Perspective for Education and Lifelong Learning - USCCB
- Good Pictures Bad Pictures Jr.: A Simple Plan to Protect Young Minds by Kristen Jenson (for kids 3-6)
- Good Pictures Bad Pictures: Porn-Proofing Today's Young Kids by Kristen Jenson (for kids 7+)
- Theology of the Body in One Hour by Jason Evert (A quick overview)
Click here for encouragement/pointers on how to speak to your children about the gift of human sexuality.
Documents to read and websites to help you understand more about the problem of pornography:
arlingtondiocese.org/Chastity-Resources/Protecting-Your-Family-from-Pornography/ - Bishop Loverde's Pastoral Letter “Bought for a Price” and many other diocesan resources.
Commonsensemedia.org - great videos about children and the internet, disabling features on phones, video game systems, appropriate movies for young people, etc.
covenanteyes.com/parenting-the-internet-generation/ - “Parenting the Internet generation” - great resource you can download with Sample Internet pledge and other resources for parents.
integrityrestored.com/ - getting help for people struggling with porn
fightthenewdrug.org/ - help spread the word about the dangers of pornography
https://protectyoungeyes.com/ultimate-set-internet-safety-digital-citizenship-resources-for-parents/ - the latest on internet safety resources.
Basic steps to protect children on the internet:
Every device with a screen (or connects to a screen) sold today can be used to surf pornography. If you do not know how to activate the parental controls, go online and do a search for that device name and “parental controls” to learn how. YouTube has many “how-to” videos.
- Have you set the parental controls on Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu?
- Have you activated the parental controls on your router?
- Free options at opendns.com/home-internet-security/
- Have you activated the parental controls on every video game console in your house?
- Most have the ability to set unique settings for each user, control the maturity rating, etc.
- Does your internet service provider offer parental controls? (like Verizon Smart Family)
- What blocking software are you using for your desktops?
- https://www.pcmag.com/roundup/240282/the-best-parental-control-software
- covenanteyes.com - accountability software for college aged youth, or for struggling adults
- Have you set the parental controls on their mobile devices?
- Apple “screen time” is new, and very helpful
- Consider turning off the internet altogether, and turning off the ability to install or delete apps
- Consider an app to control mobile device usage
- Ourpact.com
- Go to app store or Google Play store and search for “Parental control” apps
- Caught your child, and now concerned? Webwatcher.com or www.bark.us
- Concerned they are hiding their internet history? (incognito in Google or Private on Apple?) https://www.protectyoungminds.org/2017/07/20/can-kids-hide-internet-history/
- Google, “How to bypass parental controls on _______.” Learn if there are any videos showing how to get around the parental controls you have set up.
- Lock “Safe Search” on Youtube for each browser.
- If you want to see if an app is acceptable for your children: smartsocial.com/app-guide-parents-teachers/
