Author hopes book on porn educates parents, children

One former Utahn is making efforts to protect children of the digital age from pornography through children's books.

Karen Child, now a marriage and family therapist in California, has released "Temptation of a Generation," a children's book designed as a tool for communication between parents, educators and children who are at risk for exposure to pornography.

And according to Child, that's nearly every child. Moreover, she said, the average age a child is first exposed to pornography is 8 years old.

"The number-one goal is to educate parents that it is going to happen — to kind of debunk that myth — then open the lines of communication between parents and children," Child said. "That is the only researched factor that keeps kids from becoming addicted, (having) open communication and a good relationship with parents."

Child, who said she watched her ex-husband battle a porn addiction, said pornography can do extra damage on young children.

"Given the developmental stages that kids go through with their body and their minds developing, when porn comes in it causes more of an addictive response — especially now that pornography is so much more accessible," Child said. "It stops (kids) from connecting to real people in a normal way because they are used to having sexual encounters with people that aren't real, and it really disables them from having normal communication and normal relationships."

She said a child who is into pornography may show signs such as seeming depressed and spending more time in their room. They may be withdrawn, stop playing and be disinterested in things they have normally done.

She said that in working with adult addicts their stories are almost all identical — they were exposed as youths and have struggled ever since.

"And this generation of addicts are exposed a lot younger," Child said. "So I thought instead of just treating these adults we should do some preventative work."

The book "Temptation of a Generation" was released in November and is about Timmy, a shy boy who loves to play and who is curious about the world. But his life is changed when he stumbles innocently onto Internet pornography.

Timmy realizes that he needs help, finds it and ends up kicking the addiction.

The book is part of a children's series created to tackle the issues kids face in the information age. The series addresses pre-teen and adolescent issues such as self-image, technology addiction, relationships and more.

Child said some parents are concerned that talking about the subject of pornography with their children will only pique interest that may not have been there before.