National Child Protection Week

Our greatest natural resource is in the minds of our children.' - Walt Disney

As parents, guardians and care-givers, our top priority is keeping our children safe. This is highlighted by National Child Protection Week, an annual campaign aimed at raising awareness of the rights of children. The Bill of Rights in the Constitution states that all children should be protected from maltreatment, neglect and abuse.

But unfortunately, we still have a high incidence of violence and abuse against children in our country. So what can you do to ensure your child’s safety?

Of course, these depending on your child’s age and level of understanding, but here are some general safety tips:

Start now

Your child is never too young to learn about safety.

You don't have to scare them unnecessarily or teach them about the birds and the bees, but rather focus on 'safe' and 'unsafe' touching.

No one should ever touch them on an area their swimming costume covers, and they should never touch anyone else there. Teach them the proper names for the parts of the body, so if they tell someone about abuse they will be understood.

No secrets

Explain to your child that there are healthy and unhealthy secrets. Any form of secret touching is not okay, and neither is keeping permanent secrets from your parent or guardian, especially if asked to by another adult.

Who to trust

Teach your child who they can trust, for example, their teacher or friends' parents.

Tell them they can talk to them if there's a problem, if you are not there.

You can also point out people like cashiers in shops, who they can approach if they get lost. You can also set a location where you should all meet if you get separated, for example, in a mall.

Stranger danger

Explain that your child can ignore strangers or simply say, ‘I don’t talk to strangers’ and walk away without thinking it’s rude. They should never be forced to greet or hug someone if they feel uncomfortable doing so, even if it’s someone they know.

Know home

From quite a young age, children can learn their parents’ names, phone numbers and home address. Remember to quiz your kids from time to time to check they still know their details.

What about the web

In this day and age, dangers are also present online. It’s up to you as the parent to monitor your child’s internet usage. Teach them to never give out personal information like the school they attend, phone numbers or their home address.

It’s also a good idea to set your devices to forget the Wi-Fi password. That way, every time your children want to access the internet, they need to come to you for the password and you can be present.

It comes down to communication

Whether it's online or physical safety, it all depends on being an active parent. You must educate your children early, and often. Keep an open and honest relationship so your child knows that he or she can come to you about anything.

It’s up to us to instill our family values and make our children feel loved. This National Child Protection Week start educating your child about safety or just refresh their memory. Together, we can protect our most precious resource.

'While we try to teach our children all about life, our children teach us what life is all about.'

• Angela Schwindt