For most proud parents, their kids are their everything. But in this dangerous world of predators, keeping your little ones safe can be challenging, especially if you are new to parenting. Unfortunately, global statistics about child safety is nothing to write home about. Estimates from the World Health Organization show that each year about one billion children experience various forms of abuse. The awful experiences kids face during childhood can manifest in adulthood, however, evidence suggests that by taking protective measures, parents can protect their children from harm. As a helpful guide, here are the top three ways to protect your little ones from all sorts of danger.
- Know the Red Flags
Studies have shown that only one out of five abused children report their ordeals. Victimized children rarely report their abuses because the abusers typically put fear into them by threatening to harm them in some way. Since many children will not self-report any violence they suffer, parents must watch out for red flags for their child’s safety. If your little one expresses dislike for a particular person in your neighborhood, that person may be a threat. If you have any suspicions, a physical inspection of your child’s body may reveal signs of abuse such as soreness on any part of their body. Take immediate further action by seeking support from child-protection agencies in your region, to assist you with further investigations about possible victimization.
- Reinforce Your Physical Boundaries
Since kids are less mature, the safety of your little ones always begins with you, the parent. To protect your children from kidnappers, you must not compromise the safety features in your home. A security gate installation is one way to protect your kids by strengthening your physical barriers to ward off burglars and child kidnappers. Child trafficking is a worrying social canker in the world today. UNICEF estimates that about 1.2 million children are trafficked each year across the globe. The amount of exploitation these children go through puts them at risk of contracting various illnesses.
- Teach Your Kids Internet Safety
The digital age came with computers and smartphones, and kids of today’s generation have easy access to IT tools and the internet. This is dangerous because predators, knowing this have also increased their reach to social media platforms, like Facebook and Instagram. Also, there’s proof of the detrimental effects explicit online content has on the morals and academic performance of under-aged children. Yes, training your child to love IT is not a bad thing and it comes with its benefits. But an even better idea is for you to be aware of what your child has access to online. So enforce internet safety with your children by limiting their internet access time, monitoring their online activities, and warning them against online predators.
To summarize, it’s a blessing for families to have wonderful kids. But without parents’ protection, kids may struggle to grow into responsible adults. The sheer prevalence of violence against children in today’s world means that you must do all you can to make the world a better place for your kids.