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| Teacher Rica Chong had recently attended a UNICEF Talk on Child Protection and believed we should help spread the message to ensure awareness of the issue among public community. |
1. Children's right to be protected and developed.
2. Children's best interest to be made.
3. Children's right to be heard.
The awareness of child protection has so much more to be improved and done. Children need to be protected from neglect. We need to educate all members in the community to prevent malnutrition and teach our children that danger can come from the people around us. Also it is crucial for us to educate parents on all the characteristics of a violent abuser. Who is prone to abuse children? It is the responsibilities of the parents, families and communities to take care of the well being of children.
No. We can't do this alone. We need support and resources to protect our children. Not just mental health counselors. Recently in the news we read about a 2-month-old child abused by her father. She died with a broken skull. We were totally shocked. An innocent infant abused by a parent who was going through mixed emotions of anger and stress.
In early childhood field, it is important for us teachers and practitioners to give support to the parents. All the professionals must have an Early Childhood Education certificate. We should build relationship with the family and children so we are aware of the red flags if there is significant malnutrition symptoms on the children. Also we have the legal obligation to report any child abuse.
In conclusion, child abuse will never completely go away. However we need to play a proactive role to prevent child abuse and neglect by giving assessments and proper education treatments. If you are not the one who spread the message and protect their rights, who is going to? Start from you rather than depend on others.
