Impulsivity, ADHD, & Pornography w/ Kristen Jenson
Motherhood Series
Equipping parents during their child’s academic years to bring learning to daily moments.
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On today’s episode…
Why are kids with ADHD more vulnerable to porn—and what can parents do about it?
In this episode, Dr. Kelly Cagle talks with Kristen Jenson, author of Good Pictures Bad Pictures and founder of Defend Young Minds. They explore how impulsivity, underdeveloped executive function, and screen access make ADHD kids especially at risk—and why giving kids a clear, repeated plan to reject porn is critical.
Insights
Impulsivity, ADHD, & Pornography: How to Equip Our Kids to Reject Porn
Featuring: Kristen Jenson, Author & Founder of Defend Young Minds
In this powerful episode of the Parenting IQ Podcast, Dr. Kelly Cagle sits down with Kristen Jenson, the author of Good Pictures Bad Pictures and founder of Defend Young Minds, to tackle an increasingly urgent topic: how to help kids—especially those with ADHD—build the skills to resist pornography in a digital-first world.
Kristen shares the deeply personal story that inspired her work, emphasizing that protecting kids from pornography is not about shielding them from every exposure, but about equipping them with a plan to respond when—not if—they encounter it.
Why ADHD Kids Are More Vulnerable
Children with ADHD are wired for impulsivity and present-focused thinking. With underdeveloped executive function, they struggle to connect their choices today with consequences tomorrow. This makes them especially susceptible to the instant dopamine spikes pornography provides—often accessed through personal devices with little to no parental oversight.
Kristen explains that ADHD kids need repetition, clarity, and structure more than others. Simple, rehearsed strategies—like the “Turn, Run, Tell” plan from Good Pictures Bad Pictures Jr.—help these kids respond to inappropriate content with confidence rather than curiosity or shame.
Teaching Kids to Reject Porn
Instead of vague warnings like “Don’t look at porn,” Kristen encourages parents to use the word “reject.” It empowers children to actively take a stand and builds the internal filter they need. Through conversation, role-play, and repetition, kids begin to understand both the danger and the action steps they can take.
Dr. Cagle and Kristen also discuss practical tools for digital safety:
Create routines like “Tech Talk Tuesdays”
Use visual reminders, like written plans taped to devices
Make conversations informal and consistent—think car rides or lunch breaks
Pair serious topics with lighthearted experiences (like baking brownies) to reduce shame
Resources for Parents
Kristen offers an array of free tools through DefendYoungMinds.com, including:
A downloadable guide: How to Talk to Kids About Pornography
A plan for what to do after a child is exposed: My Kid Saw Porn—Now What?
A full digital curriculum called Brain Defense featuring peer-led video lessons
“Kids won’t naturally know how to handle pornography. It’s our job to teach them—early, clearly, and consistently.” – Kristen Jenson
Whether your child has ADHD or not, this episode is an essential listen for every parent navigating the challenges of raising kids in a hyper-connected world.
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HEY THERE! I’M DR. CAGLE… DO YOU NEED HELP WITH CREATING GREAT HABITS???
Parenting is hard work. It requires tons of boundaries, daily consistency, so much awareness, as well as lots of patience, grace, wisdom, and filters. Combine that hefty list with all of life’s demands and others’ voice may become louder than yours in your child’s life, increasing their anxiety, fears, and doubts.
Healthy parenting is about seeing yourself as your child’s #1 teacher, saying the right words (or nothing at all) at the right time, and having the right tools to be intentional and impactful. Guessing your way through life, which is what most parents do, is a recipe for failure, but following the lead of someone who has two decades of research-based information and fully understands the demands of parenthood is a recipe for a full life— for you and your child.
With a PhD in education, I’m here to teach you how to use daily moments are learning opportunities so you raise confident and competent lifelong learners that thrive in an ever-changing world.
Additionally, I offer workshops and keynotes on various topics to parents, educators, students, and business leaders— because the need to understand, support, and empower learners is everywhere..
