Parents urged to caution their children on safety matters

NEWCASTLE – Children have the right to be protected and grow up in a safe environment.

Despite strict laws, many children deal with violence, abuse, neglect, exploitation, exclusion and discrimination, which will negatively affect the rest of their lives.

Read: Esperanza raises hope for children with special needs

A family is the first line of protection for children. Parents or other caregivers are responsible for creating a safe and loving home and schools and communities are responsible for building a protected child-friendly environment, outside the child’s home.

The South African Police Service (SAPS) wishes learners and students who are writing exams the best of luck. However, the police warn that children are most exposed to dangers during exam periods and school holidays.

Newcastle Child Welfare social workers, Farieda Mia said many children are left unsupervised during school holidays and exams because parents have to work. As a result, children are found roaming around and sometimes meet older children who lure them into criminal activities.

“Parents must ensure that their children are supervised by a trusted adult at all times, if they cannot afford proper aftercare facilities.”

Unsupervised children can be exposed to all types of dangers including:

• gangsterism
• substance abuse
• kidnapping
• contact crimes like assault, murder and rape
• drowning
• motor vehicle -accidents
• child pornography
• suicide

Parents should constantly make their children aware of possible dangers. Do not take matters for granted and assume bad things wouldn’t happen to your child.

Related article: Voortrekkers show kindness to Morester Children’s Home

Another area of concern is the easy access to the Internet. Children must be closely monitored when they are online and should be educated on child-friendly sites, and the responsible use thereof.

Let them know they can talk to you or educators if they see anything online which makes them uncomfortable, whether it’s an explicit website or someone cyber-bullying them.

“There are three reported cases of cyber-bullying we are dealing with now, but I am certain there are many more similar situations out there. The problem is most of these cases are not reported because children fear being threatened and exposed,” said Ms Mia.

Parents must acknowledge their children can be a victim of bullying, or they can be the bully. Either way, they need help.

Below are tips from the police to assist parents in preventing children from becoming victims. These include:

-Map out with your children a safe route to walk to school or bus stop. Advise them to avoid bushy areas, construction areas, vacant areas, passages and parks where there aren’t many people or adequate lighting.

-Teach children to follow traffic signals and rules when walking.

-When a parent observes significant danger signs in their child`s life, it is important to ask them whether they are having thoughts of hurting themselves. It is relieving to the child when someone cares enough to ask that question. Tell the child that suicide in not an answer after failing.

-Children should always be supervised by an adult when swimming or when handling fireworks, during the festive season.

-Help children memorise their phone number and full address. Write down other important phone numbers such as your work and cellphone numbers on a card for your children to carry with them.

SAPS has also provided tips that children should remember, which include:
Tell someone:
-If you feel threatened, tell someone you trust.
-Never allow abuse to become a secret between you and the abuser.
-If someone has already abused you, do not protect him or her. Report it.
-If you are not believed, tell someone else.
Go to a clinic and tell the sister, she must take action. You can report abuse at a police station, or a teacher you can trust to help report it.
-Keep telling people what has happened until someone believes you and takes action to protect you.

Be aware:
-Be informed about your rights as a child.
-You have the right to say ‘no’ to any person who is doing or saying things that you feel are wrong, even your parents. This will include someone who tries to touch your body or makes any proposals that you feel uncomfortable about.
You do not have to be afraid or ashamed to ask questions about these things. You can ask your parents, teachers or any adult you trust, or you can call Childline.

Be confident:
-Girl or boy, rich or poor, fat or thin, tall or short, you must carry yourself with confidence.
-Do not give in to pressure from your friends or anybody else, but stick to your principles.
-Know your limits and respect the limits of others.
-Girls and boys must protect and stand up for each other and for what is right.
-If you are abused it can never be your fault.

Ms Mia’s advice for parents who work and cannot supervise their children themselves, is to enrol them for holiday activities that some churches and libraries provide.

“By knowing they are in a safe environment, with trusted adults, keeping children occupied constructively is the best way to keep them out of trouble,” she concluded.

Also read: Safety tips for parents and children

If you are a victim or suspect that a child is being abused, call the police or Childline.
SAPS Crime Stop 08 600 10111
SAPS Emergency number 10111
Childline 0800 05 55 55