Last week we addressed sexting and what it is as requested by a concerned parent.

READ THE ARTICLE HERE: #FreshTake: Is your child ‘sexting’?

I have researched some ways parents can curb their teens from sexting. While there’s no simple way to curb it, it’s important to pay attention to factors that may lead youth to sext. In most cases, feelings of low self-worth or self-esteem, insecurity and lack of friendships may all play a role.
Keeping these themes in mind, here are a few ways parents can save their teens from sexting:

First, figure out why your teen is sexting

Remember that all behaviour is purposeful. Your teen is acting the way they are for a reason. With the aim of trying to figure it out, ask yourself this question: What is he or she getting out of sexting?

Is sexting providing her with peer approval, making her feel attractive, increasing his popularity, boosting her self-esteem or satisfying his sexual curiosity? Once you understand what your teen is getting out of sexting, you’ll be in a better position to talk to them about the risks of sending sexually explicit images or videos.

Connect your child with a positive role model

Who are your child’s friends? Are they mixing with the wrong crowd? If you can link your child with a strong positive mentor who has ambitious goals and a strong sense of values and morals they may start to alter his behaviour and make better choices.
So, the more positive peer relationships, the less likely your teen is to engage in sexting.

Help your child feel more confident

It’s the school holidays at the moment, find activities to occupy bored youth, find something fun and engaging for your teen. If your child finds something that they good at, that will boost their self-confidence. This will reduce the likelihood to sext.

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