Arming kids to stay safe

CALL me a cynic.

As a result of years working in the media, I have heard the stories and I know how quickly and horribly things can go wrong.

The stories of Daniel Morcombe, who was aged 13 when he was abducted, and William Tyrrell, who was three when he disappeared, are heartbreaking examples.

To me, the harm of a child is like bombing a Red Cross tent during war. But it happens.

There are plenty of other mothers and fathers who feel the same way as I do, carrying a guarded approach to some situations, such as sleepovers before their child is ready or old enough to advocate for themselves should things go wrong.

A friend, who works in a profession where she sees the real impact of sexual assault carried out against local children, has a hard and fast rule that her children will not sleep over at a friend’s house until they are 12 and are ready for it.

I agree with her approach, also because my son, who is a good deal away from turning 12, is just not ready. Why force him to do something he is not comfortable with?

I was introduced to Bravehearts courtesy of my child’s school. He came home one day with booklets and worksheets stuffed in his backpack in ageappropriate language addressing body parts, funny feelings and what to do about them.

Thank goodness, I thought at the time, because this was one topic I was not sure of how to address. Bravehearts tackles the tough conversations in a straightforward manner that children can understand.

We can wrap our children in cottonwool based on our own fears but getting that balance between keeping them safe and encouraging independence can be a difficult one.

I still choose to believe the world is a good place full of good people.

Stuff happens to us all in life – good or bad – but if we have the knowledge of how to respond then that’s real empowerment. Through our kids and thanks to Bravehearts’ work, we can arm our children with the tools to stay safe.