Protecting Our Children’s Innocence in the Digital Age: Child Safety Online Tips for Parents

As parents, one of our primary responsibilities is to safeguard our children’s innocence and well-being. In today’s digital age, this task has become increasingly challenging due to the ubiquity of internet-connected devices and the potential risks they pose. Greta Eskridge, a second-generation homeschooler, former public high school teacher, and homeschooling mom of four, shares valuable insights and practical advice on how to protect our children from the dangers of pornography and online predators.

Creating Attractive Non-Screen Activities

Greta emphasizes the importance of creating attractive non-screen activities for our children, such as outdoor reading and enjoyable experiences with activities. By redirecting their attention and occupying their time with engaging alternatives, we can help reduce their reliance on screens and minimize their exposure to potential online threats.

Vigilance and Proactive Parenting

However, it’s crucial to remain vigilant and proactive in our approach. She warns about the risks of children encountering pornography and sexual predators while playing online video games, urging parents to set strict rules and monitor their children’s online activities closely. She suggests using a router to protect children under twelve from accidental exposure to pornography and highlights the significance of open communication and education about online safety.

Resources for Parents

As parents, we may feel overwhelmed or unsure about how to address these sensitive topics with our children. Greta recommends several valuable resources, including Chris McKenna’s organization Protect Young Eyes, the book Good Pictures, Bad Pictures, and How to Talk to Your Kids About Pornography. These resources provide guidance and support for parents seeking to navigate these challenging conversations and equip their children with the knowledge and skills necessary to stay safe online.

Joining Together as a Community

It’s essential to remember that you are not alone in this endeavor. By joining together as a community of parents and utilizing the available resources and support, we can create a safer online environment for our children. Open and honest communication with our children about the definition of pornography, its potential effects, and what to do if they encounter it is crucial in empowering them to make informed decisions and seek help when needed.

As we strive to protect our children’s innocence in the digital age, let us remain committed to educating ourselves, setting appropriate boundaries, and fostering a nurturing environment where our children feel safe, loved, and supported. Together, we can navigate the challenges of parenting in the modern world and help our children thrive both online and offline.

OT is IN #27: Preserving Childhood in a Digital World: Greta Eskridge’s Expertise for Families

In this episode, I sit down with Greta Eskridge, a second-generation homeschooler, former public high school teacher, and homeschooling mom of four. Greta is passionate about protecting children’s innocence and combating the dangers of pornography in our increasingly digital world.

Throughout the episode, Greta shares her expertise on the importance of open communication with children about online safety, setting strict rules for internet use, and providing engaging alternatives to screen time. She discusses the alarming statistics surrounding children’s exposure to pornography, with the average age of first exposure being around eleven years old, and emphasizes the need for parental vigilance and proactive measures to protect children from accidental exposure.

Join us as we delve into this critical topic and learn how parents can work together to keep their children safe, preserve their innocence, and cultivate meaningful connections in an increasingly digital age.

In this episode you’ll hear about:

• Greta’s expertise in protecting children’s innocence and combating pornography
• The importance of protecting children’s innocence
• Increasing accessibility of the internet and risks of early exposure to pornography
• The average age for first exposure to pornography is around eleven or younger
• Addressing accidental exposure and consequences of repeated exposure
• Children with self-control struggles are particularly vulnerable
• Strategies for protecting children
• Having honest conversations with children about pornography
• Encouraging children to seek a trusted adult when feeling curious or uncertain
• Redirecting children’s responses and occupying their time with alternative activities
• Making non-screen activities attractive
• Creating enjoyable experiences with snacks and outdoor reading
• Online gaming risks
• Exposure to pornography and sexual predators while playing online video games
• The need for parental vigilance and setting strict rules
• Using a router to protect children under twelve from accidental exposure to pornography
• Resources for parents seeking tech help and guidance on discussing pornography with children
• Parents are not alone in addressing these issues

Links and Resources From Today’s Show

• Why Should I Seek Occupational Therapy?
• Board Games to Teach Executive Functioning
• Executive Functioning Group from Homeschool OT
• Protect Young Eyes Website
• Decision-making and Executive Functions in Problematic Pornography Use
• 10 Amazing Resources for Talking to Kids About Porn
• Good Pictures Bad Pictures: Porn-Proofing Today’s Young Kids Book
• How to Talk to Your Kids About Pornography Book
• Episode 11- Exploring Unique Learning Paths in Homeschooling with Amy Bodkin
• Episode 15- From Morning to Night: Incorporating Emotional Learning in Homeschool with Elizabeth Sautter
• Episode 19- Understanding Screen Time Effects on Children and Relationships with Victoria Dunckle

Connect with our Guest, Greta Eskridge

Greta Eskridge is a second-generation home-schooling mom of 4, and a wife of 256 years to Aaron. She is a nature lover, book reader, and coffee drinker. Greta cares deeply about creating connection, preserving childhood, and chasing adventure.

Greta is passionate about educating and equipping families to fight pornography, and she loves to
travel the country sharing her message of joyful, connected parenting. Greta is the author of 3 books published by Thomas Nelson: Adventuring Together, 100 Days of Adventure, and her third book, released in the spring of 2025.

Greta hosts The Greta Eskridge Podcast, where she encourages her listeners to open their
eyes to the wonder God has put all around them and to chase joy through both the peaks and
valleys of parenting and life. Greta would love to connect with you on Instagram where you’ll find her @maandpamodern You also find more of her writing at gretaeskridge.com.