A happy new year and welcome to 2021.
The world as you know it has changed. We have a collective responsibility to groom resilient children who know how to protect themselves in our absence, who can speak up to attackers/perpetrators and who can REPORT. No matter how much you love your child, you will not be with them all the time. As a parent, teacher or school owner, you must have plans to cater to the following safety considerations so that children in your care are safe.
The threat to harm a child when they report harm might seem little to you but it works on children. This is why you must have the conversation upfront and let them know you will always stand up for them. This ensures that when they find themselves in unfavourable situations, they can take the right action.
1. Child Sexual Abuse
Educate them on how to identify it, avoid it and how not to be the abuser too. Let them know there are penalties and systems to ensure protection. Build their confidence to speak up even in the face of fear.
2. Online Safety
With the rise of e-learning and digital entertainment options, perpetrators are getting more tricky. They are sneaking harmful content in ways that bypass systems put in place by parents. Equip your children with knowledge, be observant, use protective software.
3. Physical abuse
How would you know if your child is undergoing physical abuse? This year more than ever, step up. Have conversations with your child. Let them know the red flags and let them know they can speak to you and you will ensure no one kills them.
4. Emotional abuse
Some children are not being beaten because the perpetrator knows the parent might find marks on their bodies. So they resort to demeaning the children through several methods. Watch out if an outgoing child suddenly becomes withdrawn. Investigate and act.
5. Peer to peer violence
As much as we teach children how to avoid harm from adults, we must educate them about their peers. It is not enough to say no one should harm them. We must build a culture where the child is not the one harassing other children. Stop enabling bad behaviour.
Finally, you must build genuine rapport and friendship with your children so they can confide in you. When they confide in you, ensure you PROTECT them. It builds their confidence in you.
