The “Littles”
Good Pictures Bad Pictures Jr.: A Simple Plan to Protect Young Minds by Kristen Jenson MA
Today with so much pornography infiltrating our culture, defending our children’s innocence is vital. The question is how to do that in a sensitive way? Fortunately, Kristen Jenson comes to the rescue with two age appropriate books.
In Good Pictures Bad Pictures, Jr., a gently and sensitively told story, kids are instructed what to do if they encounter porn. Defined as “bad pictures,” porn are those photos that show parts of the body that are normally covered by a bathing suit. If a child sees a bad picture, the author encourages the child to quickly cover their eyes, turn away from the picture, run to a trusted adult, and tell them. “Turn, Run, Tell,” are easily remembered by a young child, especially if they practice. She also gives them five safety rules to remember, one of which is never take pictures or videos of yourself without clothes on. Wouldn’t that be great to instill long before the teen years?
Don’t miss Notes to Parents and Caregivers in the back of the book, where Jenson gives instructions on how to use the book, why training your child is protecting their innocence, how to respond if a child does see porn, and how to help a child forget bad pictures. If you know of parents with 3-7 year olds, this is a Mr Rogers way of protecting and empowering them.
Older Peeps
Good Pictures Bad Pictures: Porn-Proofing Today’s Young Kids by Kristen Jenson, MA
In story fashion this book starts the unsettling conversation about viewing porn. Although uncomfortable at first, parents are shown how to turn this conversation into a natural and caring one. In a very simple and understandable way, Kristen Jenson even goes into the neuroscience of porn acting like a drug, so kids can understand the nature of addiction and what to do about it. At the end of each chapter good questions await you to help you and your child to continue the conversation and reinforce what was learned in the chapter.
For kids ages 7 to 12, Good Pictures Bad Pictures clearly explains the dangers of porn. It objectifies a person instead of treating them with respect and love, It teaches lies and can create an addiction. Kids learn that even seeing one picture can cause an excitement before you have a chance to turn away. Unlike drugs, you can’t unsee what you have seen. But if they know what to do in advance, they can ward off further harm.
Another simple plan called “CAN DO” helps older kids learn action steps. This time there are five steps. The first three are acted on immediately after seeing a bad picture.
Close your eyes. Turn off the screen.
Always tell a trusted adult.
Name it outloud when you see it. “That is pornography.”
The second part of the plan is when an unwanted picture pops in a child’s mind. Both of these steps are well explained in the book.
Distract yourself with something different.
Order my thinking brain to be the boss.
Further instructions and parental support are found in the back of the book. Be sure to check that out.
What Readers Say
I whole-heartedly recommend Good Pictures Bad Pictures to parents, grandparents, teachers, and pediatricians alike. In a tech-savvy age, with even preschoolers at risk of exposure to our pornified culture, the greatest gift we can give our children is an internal filter.
Michelle A. Cretella, MD, FCP, President,
American College of Pediatricians
Reading Good Pictures Bad Pictures with my children may be one of the most important things I’ve ever done for them. I have witnessed the ravaging effects of pornography in the lives of many loved ones, but until finding this book, I didn’t know how to begin a dialogue with my young children to help neutralize pornogrphy’s powerful vortex of addiction. The book’s meticulous word choice, powerful but simple description of the two parts of the brain, and its “CAN DO” plan (the equivalent of a fire evacuation plan for any internet-enabled device) have given me tremendous peace of mind. I look forward to reinforcing its concepts often.
Diane, mother of 6
Get it. Read it. Tell everyone you know about it. Whether we like it or not, we need to talk to our kids in an age-appropriate way about the dangers of pornography. Good Pictures Bad Pictures is quite simply the best book available to help facilitate this conversation.
Matt Fradd, author, speaker, anti-porn activist
Prayer
“Keep your thoughts continually fixed on all that is authentic and real, honorable and admirable, beautiful and respectful, pure and holy, merciful and kind.” Phil. 4:8 TPT We declare this truth over young minds today. We call in purity and wholesome thoughts for this generation. Although the devil is on the prowl to seek to pollute our youth, we declare your blessing and peace over each one. Guard them from the snares of the enemy.
Raise up many parents and guardians to make others aware of this danger, and to place a hedge of protection through prayer and action around each child. Help them to make wise choices about who interacts with their children. Give them discernment and richly bless these parents.
As kids themselves learn about the dangers of pornography, give them boldness to share with their peers. We call for all hands on deck to fight this epidemic. We also call for a cultural shift of thinking. Forgive us for letting this become so prevalent. Help us purge our school libraries and internet spaces of sexual perversion. Let us stand firm on the neck of this enemy.
Decree
We decree healthy and wholesome environments for our children to grow up in, free from the dangers of porn and predators.
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Sounds amazing. I sure want to buy them for my grandkids.
Yes, I hope you will.
I’ve used these books for years to help build guardrails in children’s minds which will help keep them safe from groomers online and in person. A child who accepts naked pictures as normal will be vulnerable to sending nudes and being willing to expose themselves for money or attention. It’s a small step from there for them to be vulnerable to a pimp suggesting they could “make a lot of money” by participating in pornography and then trapping them into forced prostitution. These books are invaluable, especially with the topic approach for very young children and continuing education for older kids. I would recommend them to all parents, grandparents, teachers, youth leaders and anyone who cares about children!
Solid recommendation from one who’s experienced in the fight! Thank you Jo for your feedback.