Parents, this is a good time as any to build an even stronger relationship with our children, where the child feels comfortable to share anything…being there for a child without questioning and trusting the child is more than half the problem solved..unfortunate events are a part of our lives. It’s important therefore, not only to make our children aware but also equip them to protect themselves as much as possible.
As a parent of a 7 year old myself, there are a few dos and dont’s that I follow…
1. Share the events of a child’s day everyday.
2. Don’t forget to praise or show affection for the child. At times, a relative lack of this at home, makes the child susceptible to this outside the home..
3. Treat the child as a mini adult. Share with the child everything but in a vocabulary the child . Share with the child everything but in a vocabulary the child can relate to. Again a relative lack of information given or questions unanswered at the home front can make the child vulnerable outside the home.
4. Allow the child to make age appropriate decisions so that when they need to protect themselves outside the home through choices, they are ready for that process.
5. Make the child aware of negative influences . Set rules for the same and be consistent. eg no talking to strangers. If they go to a mall and a stranger says hello, they need not answer. If at that point, the parent says to the child to return the Hello, that’s wrong and inconsistent. A NO is a NO. Otherwise, the child will take the rules lightly.
6. Please explain the good touch and bad touch early on and respect the child’s boundaries and comfort areas. If the child says, I do not like this uncle patting me, please respect it.
7. It’s important to understand the reason behind a child’s statement before questioning and negating the child. Sometimes, the child may not have a strong enough reason or not be able to explain it verbally, yet respect the child’s decision. There is always a reason.
8. When giving information about negative influences, it’s also important to tell the child as to how to protect themselves. For eg. If they are approached by someone that they are uncomfortable with, teach them to be assertive and say NO. Teach them some self defense measures.
Let’s not deny the harsh reality around us. We cannot be with our children 24 *7. Along with awareness, make them stronger to fight for themselves, to protect themselves.
These are only some pointers..each parent knows their child best. Trust in that and make a beginning. Seek help when and where needed…