Experts have warned that parents should start talking about the dangers of 'sexting' with their kids, even before they enter middle school.
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Dr. Susan Lipkins, a psychologist who specializes in school conflict, said that by sexting, kids are acting out and there may be several reasons why they do this, the New York Daily News reported.
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Lipkins insisted that there may be something in the child's life where they have already been exposed to sex, either by seeing things or hearing things they shouldn't, or perhaps being abused.
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She asserted that it often takes only one troubled child to start a dangerous trend among peers.
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Dr. Rebecca Bailey, a family psychologist and author of "Safe Kids, Smart Parents: What Parents Need to Know to Keep Their Children Safe", agreed with Lipkins and said that there's a lot of double daring going on.
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Bailey insisted that she knew a boy, around 11 years old, that sexted to make the other kids stop thinking he was nerdy and fit it.
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Lipkins advised that the first step to start the conversation with your younger child is to start with the basics and even a younger child can understand, don't take pictures of anything that's private; don't expose your last name or any identifying info.
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Lipkins said that parents should give their child a "dumb" phone, not a smartphone.
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She said that the phone you give your child should only have features that child is ready to handle.
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Meanwhile, Bailey said that if a child can't exercise good judgment with photos or texting, parents can and should disable those functions.
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Lipkins said also asserted that parents should have access parents should have access to the phone and be able to see texts and photos, and have the passwords to any apps.
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She said that privacy can happen later during high school, but in middle school, kids still need supervision.
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Lipkins said that instead of asking lecturing, parents should ask questions.
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Bailey suggested that one should be a bit of a detective and find out what's really going on in your child's life.
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She said that parents should use examples about other kids that they know and often that will give you more information than hitting the kids head on.
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Lastly, Lipkins said that parents should set down ground rules before they give them the phone and then check in periodically.
