Treasure House Kids

Sexting..that's right I did not misspell it.  Sexting is a growing problem among our kids.  A problem that most of us are not even aware of.  What is sexting?  It is the sending of sexual messages and/or pictures via as text messages.  Now I know a lot of you breathed a sigh of relief saying my kid would never do that--but I implore you to rethink.  If your child has a cell phone I am willing to bet that they have received and in some cases sent sexts. 

Most parents take great efforts to monitor what their children watch on TV, we place parental controls on the internet and keep the computer in family room in full view, but when it comes to phones...well we seldom actually talk on them-- we text.  Unfortunately there are no parental controls on a cell phone.  Most all cell phones take pictures and believe me kids know how to hide history.  It is scary because sexting is considered pornography and against the law.  The sending and receiving a sexting can land you prison time and a life time charge as a sexual offender.  Just Google 'sexting', but beware of explicits photos!!!!  CNN and CBS has some good aritcles. 

So what are we to do?  Well for starters--does you child really need a cell phone?  In some cases such as blended families or if your child is traveling with someone else--a cell phone would be appropriate but not without strict guidelines. 

If you have decided to give your child a cell phone: 

                Set times when the phone can be used. 

                Make sure it is on the charger each night in plain view such as the kitchen

                or family room. 

               Check your child's contacts--if you don't recognize someone, call them, find

               out who they are. 

              Check your child's pictures often at least three times a week at random

               times. 

If you find something inappropriate, act immediately.  Confront the child and contact the other participants.  Be prepared, legal ramifications may occur to your child and others involved.  Then I would take the child's cell phone and internet privileges for at least 6 months.  Then when the phone is returned it would be a phone without camera capabilities, all texting would be blocked from sending and receiveing and it would have a number that the child is not allowed to give out for atleast another three months.

Sounds severe I know--but this is a major issue that we as parents can not afford to count as just a normal kid curiousity--sexting is a major SIN problem.  It is robbing our children of their purity and Satan is using it as a stepping stone to more explicit acts of sin sick lifestyles.  PARENTS WAKE UP AND BEWARE!!!!!!! 

Email me and I will send you a survery concerning Sex and Tech.  kim@polecreek.org