Show love by protection

Every year around this time the offices of welfare services and the like are abuzz with preparations for Child Protection Week. As organisations that have the mandate to protect children and to educate parents, it is expected of us to do something worthwhile that will impact a community.

I like to encourage each parent and educator to make a difference going forward. Give your child a reason to believe that he or she is special and worth fighting for.

In South Africa, former President Mr. Nelson Mandela, has gone out of his way to make known to each African child that they are special. Do we need to give reasons why children are special? Yes, they are the future, they hold promise and they are fragile and need protection, but I have always understood from Madiba that it is because they are children that they deserve to be loved and protected.

SA sees many child-headed households, abused and neglected children, exploitation of youth, youth gangs and many more. It is a sad picture. But, we also see poor little angels laughing, playing, and enjoying their youth. How can we not want to protect that?

Child Protection Week normally focuses on orphan and hungry children, but what about your own children? Can you begin to understand the possibilities of growth and change that your child brings to this rainbow nation? This should be your main focus and once you’ve realised this, you will begin to understand how important it is for you to love, nurture and protect.

Worldwide we are all fighting many dangers that our children get exposed to in the technological arena. Here are the main dangers that you should be aware of:

• Cyber Bullying: According to Stop Cyber Bullying, when a minor is either tormented, threatened, harassed, humiliated, embarrassed or otherwise targeted by another minor by means of the internet, interactive and digital technologies and mobile phones. Once an adult gets involved it is called cyber harassment or cyber stalking. Methods used are limited only by the child’s imagination and access to technology. Due to modern technology, kids can now be cyber bullied 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, instantly and repeatedly. According to research 84% of today’s parents don’t know how to help kids conquer this threat, turning them into victims themselves.
  
  
• Predators: Through social networking sites, chat rooms and sexting, online predators use various techniques to establish a close relationship with young web users. Predators typically pose as young people and take their time befriending minors, gathering personal information in the virtual world so they can lure, blackmail, abuse or kidnap their targets in the real world.
  
  
• Malicious software (also known as Malware): Malicious software is the umbrella term for unsolicited software intended to annoy, destroy, or exploit. The category includes malicious adware, viruses, keylogging software and backdoor Trojan programs, which allow attackers unauthorised access to and control over a user's computer.
  
  Malware often loads through infected links and downloads when users click on ads or buttons designed to start the programs. The links and buttons may be presented to an intended victim via a phishing e-mail or on a malicious website. Malware can sometimes load invisibly and, in a worst-case scenario, allow others to control your computer.
  
  Children often value "free" over "safe." Young internet users are at higher risk of downloading infected programs. Malware distributors know children seek out free software, music, and "cracks" (serial numbers) for pirating commercial games; they also know these same children often trust links and e-mail attachments more often than they should.
  
  
• Inappropriate content: This includes all forms of online material that is considered to be for adult use only and considered inappropriate for minors. It can be focused around foul language, pornography, violence and hate propaganda. Even if a minor isn't looking for adult or violent material online, it's sometimes easy to stumble across it simply by following search-engine or instant-message links.
  
  
• Excessive use of technology: Most children have 24 hour access to one or more of the following devices: Television, DVD’s, Playstation, mobile phones, computers, Xbox, iPod’s and now the iPad.
  
  Rarely parents introduce or maintain rules concerning usage, especially when it comes to time spent in front of these devices. Some research shows that excessive use of technology can lead to one or more of the following: anti-social behaviour, exposure to inappropriate content, health issues (obesity, diabetes, depression, malnutrition, poor physical development and overall weak bodily functioning), attention disorders, attitude problems, addiction, pornography, poor performance at school, obsessive compulsive behaviour, foul language and sleep deprivation or disturbances.

Now that we had a look at the dangers and what you should be aware of, it is important to go through the following ways in which you can keep your child safe:

• Educate your children about these dangers and form rules and consequences of your own, then follow through;
• Teach them to respect the boundaries of all people and to take a stand against dangers;
• Build a relationship with your child that enables them to trust you with their good and bad decisions or experiences;
• React in a way that will make your child feel secure and safe;
• Don’t brush off the emotional impact that these dangers have on children. Be supportive and understanding;
• If you do come across evidence of any kind, keep a thorough record and if need be, report it as quickly as possible to the local authorities, especially if personal contact information has been posted online. Printouts are not sustainable evidence, you need electronic evidence and live data;
• Inform your child’s school, (peer or family) counsellor and paediatrician if things progress. It is crucial for them to support your family in any way they can.

Here are some quick practical tips you can teach your children about online safety:

• Regularly update your preferred social mediums’ security settings to the maximum;
• Think about photographs or messages that you post, think about the message that it sends out to the world about you;
• Never make known your address, cell number, banking details, pin number or identity number on public sights, via e-mail or text message;
• People are not always who they say they are – don’t trust people online that you don’t know in real life; • When harassed, STOP contact, BLOCK the person and TELL an adult;
• Online safety rules are there to protect you from danger;
• Use passwords that will not be easy to crack;
• Limit the time your child spends using technology;
• Trash any suspicious e-mails or links.

May you have a wonderful time with your child during Child Protection Week. Celebrate them by doing something special and by placing the focus on them for all the right reasons.