Monitoring the adult internet exposure at home is easier said than done. Nowadays, exploring the internet is irresistible for curious children in their adolescent years. Find out how to manage adult internet exposure at home!
In this article, you’ll read:
- Adolescent curiosity and adult internet exposure
- Educating adolescents is now better than restriction
- What parents should do about children’s early exposure to adult contents
Adolescent Curiosity and Adult Internet Exposure
“With my computer, I can find out about anything I want to know,” children’s point-of-view in adult content.
Unlike before, kids nowadays have massive exposure to the most significant technological innovation–the internet. By the age of 10 or 12 years old, most children want to own smartphones and other gadgets. However, this decision boils down to a child’s maturity and the phone’s necessity.
Then and Now
Back then, when youngsters asked unexpected questions about an adult’s experience, parents were very hesitant to respond.
When kids ask about adult topics, parents usually ask them to ask the question about once they’re all grown up. However, parents are no longer their children’s greatest source of information nowadays. Teenagers have become becoming more reliant on browsing the internet using their smartphones.
At present, most youngsters have immediate 24-hour access to the internet to satisfy their curiosity. They can access vast amounts of information and misinformation is just one click or tap.
Educating Adolescents Is Better Than Restriction
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Parents can never hinder their children from becoming curious, especially in their adolescent years. They must accept the reality of the availability and immediacy of today’s information.
Restricting Internet Access
Some parents tend to limit their children’s internet use by monitoring and restricting their online activity. They sometimes disable their child’s access to some internet sites and content.
Parents do this to protect their kids from harmful content on the internet that could influence them. These blocked sites often deal with violence, hate, sex, gambling, dating, and other illegal acts.
Aside from the things mentioned above, parents protect children from whatever else parents fear. They’re determined to keep these types of information from reaching their children’s gadgets.
The world of the internet is where much discovery occurs. It could be overwhelming for traditional parents to oversight the process.
Parents can always raise their children the ways they want to. However, they have no control over their kid’s access and activity on the smart devices of their friends. Aside from that, their children could also access devices elsewhere.
Better Than Restriction
It would be better if parents could accept that almost every piece of information is available online. We are now in a new and different era. What you grew up knowing will not always apply to your child.
If you find any disturbing adolescent online searching or experience in your child, take it as an opportunity. It could be the best opportunity for discussion and educating them on the things that they should be knowledgeable about.
Parents should help evaluate whatever the young person is being electronically told. Along with this, they must be open to following whatever their child’s curiosity leads.
What to Do With Your Kids’ Early Exposure to Adult Content
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Once your kid sees adult content online, you can’t make them unsee it. There is a simple rule for parents about confronting forbidden or unwanted internet exposure to their teenagers.
Calm Communication
Parents should remain calm if they want to open a healthy discussion with their children. It would be better if they could first take a deep breath before initiating a talk. Take some time to think about how to calmly explain things to your kids. You can always talk to a friend first, and be ready to listen, learn, and communicate with your child.
Encourage Your Kids to Talk
It is not impossible for parents to find an unwanted internet exposure in their adolescents’ life. Concerning this, parents should know that this is not the time to express criticism or give punitive corrections.
They must take this as an opportunity to encourage communication between them and their child. Additionally, parents must keep adolescent internet life with all its complexities. They must also be open to discussion for their teens to share their growing online experiences.
4 Ways to Talk to Your Child About Unexpected Online Adult Content
- Stay calm because being upset will make your child worried.
- Ask questions first and understand how much your kid saw.
- Keep it real as it is important to educate teens on unhealthy and unrealistic messages.
- Set parental controls. You can use parental control tools to block access to harmful content and other adult content.
Healthy tip for parents: Encourage your child to first approach you if they have any questions or concerns about what they encounter online. Don’t scare them and inform them in a calm manner.
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