POSITIVE Parenting

Under the law, parents and guardians have particular obligations relating to the safety of children which should not be ignored.

The Child Care and Protection Act 2004 is the piece of legislation for the care and protection of all minors up to 18 years old.

The act creates a legal obligation to report knowledge or suspicion that a child has been, is being or is likely to be abandoned, neglected, physically or sexually ill-treated or otherwise in need of care and protection.

The Child Development Agency (CDA) states that parents need to accept and take these responsibilities very seriously. They also suggest to parents that much can be done to help the children in their charge to be safe. They advise:

✓ Teach your children to walk in groups and not alone.

✓ Stay away from lonely areas/roads - stay in populated areas.

✓ Do not give information about family and self.

✓ Teach them emergency numbers.

✓ Keep communication open with your children - make them feel comfortable to come and tell you anything.

✓ Look out for other children on the roads.

✓ Parents know your children's friends and know their parents.

✓ Teach them not to go off with anyone, even if they know them. They are to speak to you themselves first - not have the person call and talk to you and say you have said it is okay.

✓ Do not go off with friends to their homes without prior permission and supplying critical information: telephone numbers, addresses and parents' names, etc.

✓ Parents know your child's schedule/routine - times they finish school, extra classes or extra-curricular activities and approximate times they should be home.

✓ Teach your children to scream or make noise if they are being forced to go with someone, to alert adults that they do not know them. Do not go quietly! Do not accept rides from anyone. Most predators count on them going quietly.

✓ Teach your children that once they are uncomfortable to move away from the situation - even if peers are doing otherwise.

✓ Create a parenting network with other parents.

Source: Child Development Agency, Kingston.