Protecting your child from the darkest evil

Imagine the most heinous being standing at your front door ready to come in and devour your children — would you not do everything to protect them from this beast who really is the devil himself? No doubt you would and for years I thought my husband I were doing that not realizing that the beast had easy access to our home and that with one click he could devour the most innocent children.

Last week Kirk Cameron’s film Connect hit movie theatres across the nation bringing life-saving information for families. In his documentary on the impact of the Internet and social media age on children, Cameron calls us the “pioneer parents.” Pioneer because we are the first generation of parents raising children in a world wired in wifi, Internet and satellite TV.

We live in a new digital age where tablets, laptops, smart phones and other electronic devices now make it possible for pornography and predators who lurk in social media to come right into our living room.

But as God’s people, we do not fear. Rather we use God-given wisdom to take action and do all we can to protect our children in this new era. While a lot can be said about how to combat and be proactive in protecting our children from the evil that lies on the Internet, here are few simple steps you can take today to make sure your precious loved ones are protected.

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1. Teach your children about what pornography is and the dangers of the Internet. A great starting point is reading books like Good Pictures Bad Pictures: Porn-Proofing Today’s Young Kids by Kristen Jansen.  This is an excellent resource that explains pornography and what your child can do when he/she sees porn. Jansen says one of the first steps is to teach your children to name it when they see it.

 

The sad truth is that it’s not a matter of if your children will see pornography but a matter of when. If you have children ages 3 – 6, you need to take the utmost precaution. Jansen has tailored the book for this age group called, Good Pictures Bad Pictures Jr.: A Simple Plan to Protect Young Minds.

 

2. In addition to setting parental controls to your child’s computer or mobile device, invest in Internet filters like Net Nanny which can block pornography from accidentally popping up on your child’s smartphone or laptop. Depending on the age and the needs of your family, there are several Internet filters you can choose from. Here’s Top Ten Review’s latest list of the best Internet filters for 2018. 

3. Even if you put the best filters on your child’s smartphone and turn off the Wifi at night, the best protection you can give your child, is building a great relationship with them. This is something money can’t buy or be done in an instant. If you are struggling with your child, get parenting help. One of the best resources we’ve found recently is  the Connected Families Online Course found at connectedfamilies.org. Reach out to other families with children and if necessary get professional family therapy help. It’s never too late to start.

I’m so thankful to know that we are not alone in this parenting journey. God is with us. Indeed He who is in us is greater than he who is in the world. The enemy may come raging at our front door, but the angel of the Lord encamps around those who love Him. So we pray with all our hearts for God’s wisdom and protection and we work with all our might to do all we can to protect our children .

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