New Resource to Help Kids Stand Up to Sexting with authors Christy Monson and Heather Boynton

Media Savvy Moms

On your list of tricky topics to bring up with your kids, how high is sexting? Top 3? Top 10? Is it even there? If it's not, keep reading, and it’ll soon be number one. The combination of digital cameras, instant messaging, and the adolescent brain puts our kids at huge risk. The bullying begins. An intimate photo is blasted. The police are called in. Kids today need to know they have better options. They need to know that they can stand up to sexting.

Fortunately, there’s a phenomenal resource that takes this particular tricky topic and turns it into a fun—yes fun!—and incredibly comfortable conversation starter. It’s a book (or a guide, if you prefer). And it’s called Stand Up To Sexting: An Open Conversation for Parents & Kids.

We had the privilege of sitting down this week with the authors, Christy Monson and Heather Boynton. Christy’s a grandma to tweens, teens and beyond. Heather’s a mom to teens and younger. Both are professionals in the field of child development. And both have seen first hand the devastating effects that sexting is having on kids in our high schools, colleges, and in even our elementary schools. So, what did they do? They decided to act—TO STAND UP—and to do something about it.

With their combined experience and expertise they created a resource that allows families to: get past the awkward stage, foster better communication, and help change the trajectory of their kids’ experience with their digital devices.

Media Savvy Moms is a podcast by ParentsAware, an organization dedicated to helping parents talk to kids and teens about pornography and healthy sexuality.