I found porn on my year-old son's iPhone. His dad and I are divorced and we have not had "the sex talk" with him at all yet. My question is, do I talk to my son about what I found? He is sensitive and in counseling since our recent divorce, and we are working on me being able to talk to him without him shutting down or crying.
So I don't want to embarrass him. However, with this likely being his only "educator," I feel he needs to know that porn is not a real representation of sex. Please help. The short answer is yes, talk to your son about the pornography. Parents need to be as matter of fact as possible when talking about sex and sexuality with children.
And the fact is that kids are going to be exposed to this β because of the ubiquity of sex on the Internet everyone is. So it is crucial that you address this issue in a non-judgmental way. You can even utilize a little bit of humor. And you should offer to answer any question, however embarrassing. I also understand your ambivalence about bringing this up with a sensitive child you are having trouble communicating with, but if you are calm and matter-of-fact at least some information will get through, which is a start.
I know you may not want to hear it, but I really have to share some facts with you. Offer to answer any questions they may have in the future. Parents need to be as matter of fact as possible when talking to kids about sex and watching porn. Be clear that sexual curiosity is natural and nothing to be embarrassed about. Provide kids with vetted resources about sex to dispel misinformation.
Join our weekly newsletter for expert tips, parenting guides, and more. Skip to main menu Skip to content Skip to footer. Should I talk to him? Get this as a PDF. Enter email to download and get news and resources in your inbox.
