Media Savvy Moms

Did you grow up going to sleepovers? Do you have fond memories? Best friends, hanging out all night? Are you eager to carry on the tradition? Or would you rather it disappear altogether? What about the risks? Are they greater in the digital age? Or is there any way to ensure a safer sleepover experience?

Media Savvy Moms is a podcast by ParentsAware, an organization dedicated to helping parents talk to their children and teens about pornography and healthy sexuality. For complete show notes, visit http://parentsaware.info/index.php/podcast/.

The sex talk has gotten a bad rap for decades. Awkward. Uncomfortable. Embarrassing. Does it have to be that way? Not at all. Many of our preconceptions about sex talks with children and teens are actually false. If we want to help our kids understand the harms of pornography, the truth is, we have to start with healthy and positive conversations about sex. Let’s find out how. 

In this episode, I am joined by Natasja Visser, the creator of Let’SEXplain, a program designed to help parents and teens talk openly about sex. Natasja’s approach is down-to-earth and inviting. With all her amazing practical tips I dare you to listen and not want to talk to your kids. Actually, that’s silly. Just go talk to your kids! Natasja makes it easy!

Media Savvy Moms is a podcast by ParentsAware, an organization dedicated to helping parents talk to their children and teens about pornography and healthy sexuality. For complete show notes, visit http://parentsaware.info/index.php/podcast/.

Raising kids in the digital age means there is no escaping the question about screens. Actually, it’s a long list of questions. How much screen time is ok? Does it depend on the activity? When should my child get their own tablet, device, or smartphone? What’s healthy? What’s not? And what is meant by clean vs toxic tech habits?

In this episode I talk with Melanie Hempe, founder and executive director of ScreenStrong, an organization that offers a unique approach to eliminate childhood screen dependency. Together, we take a closer look at society’s acceptance of toxic screen use and discuss how to help parents and children reject the pressure to engage early with gaming, social media, and smartphones.

Media Savvy Moms is a podcast by ParentsAware, an organization dedicated to helping parents talk to their children and teens about pornography and healthy sexuality. For complete show notes, visit http://parentsaware.info/index.php/podcast/.

There’s a lot of pressure on parents to get their kids a smartphone and the latest social apps. What if you’re not ready to give in but your child’s insisting they need a phone to feel included. Is this a valid reason? If not, how do you say no? 

This episode is part of our #DearSavvy series. Sometimes you just want a quick answer to a burning question. These shorter episodes are designed to give you just that.

Media Savvy Moms is a podcast by ParentsAware, an organization dedicated to helping parents talk to their children and teens about pornography and healthy sexuality. For complete show notes, visit http://parentsaware.info/index.php/podcast/.

There’s a trend that has coaches worried. Participation in youth sports is down across the board. And the steady decline seems to correlate with the rise of smartphones and other technologies. For many coaches, the concern goes beyond the field, pitch, or pool and are urging parents to pay careful attention to their kids’ confidence, self-esteem, and body image. Sport is not just sport. It has immense physical and mental benefits too.

In this episode, I am joined by Larissa Mills, founder of iparentgen.com, a parenting website and resource to help families balance the use of phones. Our conversation today centers around the often-overlooked value of sport for instilling confidence, improving self-esteem, and developing a healthy body image.

Media Savvy Moms is a podcast by ParentsAware, an organization dedicated to helping parents talk to their children and teens about pornography and healthy sexuality. For complete show notes, visit http://parentsaware.info/index.php/podcast/.

Back to school is the perfect time to review safety strategies with kids. One that’s simple and effective is asking your child or teen to come up with a list of trusted adults to add to their Safe Network. 

Having a Safe Network is a concept we highlight in our 5 Body Safety Tips for Kids guide. That’s something you’ll want to print out and stick on your fridge. But in this episode, I walk through the details of helping kids choose who to put in their Safe Network and why it’s important to go to a variety of different sources to build your team. 

Media Savvy Moms is a podcast by ParentsAware, an organization dedicated to helping parents talk to their children and teens about pornography and healthy sexuality. For complete show notes, visit http://parentsaware.info/index.php/podcast/.

Ever heard of Only Fans? It’s an online platform where content creators get paid directly by their followers, a.k.a. fans, for the photos and videos they share. But the site is rife with porn and exploitation. And worse, it’s targeting young women in droves with promises of turning likes and follows into instafame and fortune.

In this episode, I speak with Meghan Donevan, research director at Talita, a Swedish organization offering exit programs to trafficked and prostituted women. Together, we discuss the inherent problems with platforms such as OnlyFans and their impact on both individuals and society. Plus, strategies parents can use to talk to their kids about sexual exploitation and how to safeguard them against traps like OnlyFans. 

Media Savvy Moms is a podcast by ParentsAware, an organization dedicated to helping parents talk to their children and teens about pornography and healthy sexuality. For complete show notes, visit http://parentsaware.info/index.php/podcast/.

In this episode, I share not one but six ways to transition casual conversations to the topic of pornography. These tips are designed to help you talk openly with extended family, neighbors, and close friends. We know that pornography grows in the shadows. It thrives in secrecy. When we stay silent, it wreaks havoc on people's lives. This is about shining a light on that threat.

Media Savvy Moms is a podcast by ParentsAware, an organization dedicated to helping parents talk to their children and teens about pornography and healthy sexuality. For complete show notes, visit http://parentsaware.info/index.php/podcast/.

Filters installed. Devices monitored. Online safety taught. All of this, and children can still make poor choices—like sending nudes. So, how do we respond when we learn of this behavior? 

This episode is part of our #DearSavvy series. Sometimes you just want a quick answer to a burning question. These shorter episodes are designed to give you just that. Tune in to the podcast to hear the whole scoop, and check out the show notes for helpful tools and information.

Media Savvy Moms is a podcast by ParentsAware, an organization dedicated to helping parents talk to their children and teens about pornography and healthy sexuality. For complete show notes, visit http://parentsaware.info/index.php/podcast/.

Dear Savvy: Help! My child is sending nudes. What should I do? I’m shocked. My daughter is only eleven-years-old. I did everything by the books. I even kept her phone at night, and this still happened. 

We know the term cyberbullying. So do our kids. But what about cyberstalking and sextortion? Not so much. Yet, these are serious online threats putting more kids at risk than most of us realize. What do we need to know to empower kids to be internet safe? 

In this episode, I speak with Matt Richardson, an awesome dad of two and founder of the Digital Empowerment Project Canada. Matt is OSINT and SOCINT credentialed. Which means he spends his work hours investigating internet intelligence and decoding information in an effort to reduce harms and end online exploitation.

Media Savvy Moms is a podcast by ParentsAware, an organization dedicated to helping parents talk to their children and teens about pornography and healthy sexuality. For complete show notes, visit http://parentsaware.info/index.php/podcast/.