Abusive men who use pornography leave chaos in their destructive wake. In addition to the affected partner, children suffer deeply. A child’s exposure to pornography is considered sexual abuse. Learn how to protect young children from pornography.

A Child Exposed to Pornography Has Been Sexually Abused

A child’s accidental exposure to a pornography user’s pornography is considered sexual abuse. Children who view pornography are in trauma. They need immediate trauma-focused care to be able to process and heal.

Trauma from pornographic material exposure can affect children in many ways. Often, traumatized children experience:

• Sleep disturbances including nightmares and insomnia
• Mood swings and behavioral issues
• Somberness, sadness
• Preoccupation with sexuality
• Fear and anxiety about safety

Victims of Emotional Abuse Can Set Boundaries To Protect Children

Courageous women who face the devastation of betrayal trauma, emotional abuse, and sexual betrayal can find help, healing, and support as they move forward with setting and maintaining boundaries that will keep their children safe from a pornography user’s material.

An example of a boundary that would protect women and children from the chaotic harm and abuse of pornography use, would be to ask the pornography user to relocate to a different living space so that his material cannot harm anyone in the family.

Victims of Emotional Abuse Can Be Proactive in Teaching Children About Pornography

BTR affirms that children will have a trauma response to pornography. All children who are exposed to pornography are sexual abuse victims. They should be treated with compassion, respect, and the intentional care that any trauma victim would receive for sexual abuse.

In addition to trauma-focused care, women may find some resources helpful in helping their children understand the truths about pornography.

The book Good Pictures, Bad Pictures may be helpful in teaching children about pornography:

 It defines what pornography is.  If a child has a simple definition they can recognize it and have a vocabulary to tell about it.

It gives kids a plan for when they see it. We have the CANDO plan.  It includes closing their eyes, telling a trusted adult or parent about the exposure, naming it when they see it so they label it and recognize it. How to deal with the memories. Pornography creates shocking memories.  Many of us can still remember when we were first exposed and can call up the memory if we want.

Kids Can Teach Their Brains To React Healthily To Porn

The third is it gives children the power over porn by teaching them how their brains react to it.  Kids learn about their thinking brain and their feeling brain.They learn to keep their thinking brain in charge so that pornography can’t hijack their feeling brain.

Number four is that it protects kids from addictions of all kinds. Although we are focusing on pornography, the addiction process is very similar, no matter if you have a behavioral addiction like pornography or gambling or video games or a substance addiction.  It’s really important for children to understand about all addictions and how they can avoid them.

Number five may be the most important. It unifies the family to fight the dangers of pornography together by getting it out in the open.

Kristen Jenson, co-author of Good Pictures, Bad Pictures

Betrayal Trauma Recovery Supports Victims

The free BTR podcast is available to all emotional abuse victims. Tune in today and hear stories from other women who understand what you’re going through.

Check out BTR’s resources for sexual abuse victims. You will find strength and empowerment as you learn more about trauma.

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Remember, you are not alone.