By Susan Ciancio
With the news about the government’s defunding of Planned Parenthood, more and more parents are realizing that this abortion organization does incredible harm to children and to families. And while they may not have given much thought to it before, parents are now coming to understand the disturbing truth. Planned Parenthood has infiltrated our society, and it’s even in our schools.
So how do we help protect our children from Planned Parenthood and keep them safe from its immoral practices? And how do we convey to children that they have value and that PP tries to strip them of it? We must be proactive, and we must communicate the truth.
Below are six actions you can take to keep Planned Parenthood out of the lives of your children.
1. Arm yourself with knowledge
We can’t fight what we don’t know. And we can’t teach what we don’t know. Read the truth about what Planned Parenthood stands for, how it infiltrates schools, and how it targets children and families. American Life League’s Stop Planned Parenthood International has valuable information on its site not just for families but for community activism. Celebrate Life Magazine also has many eye-opening articles about Planned Parenthood and how it harms families.
2. Arm your children with knowledge
Kids, especially teens, need to know the truth. Read “An Open Letter to Teens about Planned Parenthood,” an article specifically designed for teens to read and that helps engender conversations between teens and parents. Additionally, the Culture of Life Studies Program offers a video lesson entitled Who Was the Real Margaret Sanger? This lesson explores the founding of Planned Parenthood and addresses its racist roots.
3. Talk to your children and listen to them
It is a misconception that PP helps women. The truth is that it does incredible harm to individuals and to society. Ask your kids what they have heard from school or from friends about Planned Parenthood. Ask what teachers are saying and if their school uses PP’s curriculum. Listen to your children’s concerns and discuss them rationally. Kids need to hear the truth.
4. Involve yourself in your child’s school
Know what your child’s school teaches and if PP is involved in the curriculum. Schools will often teach lessons contrary to moral values regarding sexuality, so it’s imperative to know what your children are hearing. This article has some great ideas for ways to talk to your kids about sexuality at different points in their lives, as it’s important to foster ongoing and age-appropriate conversations about sexuality.
5. Homeschool
The easiest way to keep your children from harmful curricula and from anti-life teachings is to teach them at home. You choose the curriculum, and you can then supplement it with CLSP’s pro-life lessons.
6. Teach those in your community
If you truly want to protect your children, and the children of those in your community, you must teach the truth. Our book entitled Parent Power!! (which is free to download) arms you with the tools and strategies you need to get Planned Parenthood out of your community.
Planned Parenthood is a nefarious organization that does not care about families or the women it claims to “help.” While the government’s stripping PP of some of its money is a good start, it still allows some abortions via its exceptions clause. That is why we must never give up the fight. We must teach the truth, combat the lies, and always stand up for the vulnerable.