As we move into the National Child Protection week (29th May to 5th June), we are made aware of the unique challenges that children have faced in the last few years. Not only are they growing up in a world with unique challenges that we perhaps did not experience at their age, but they have also had to navigate the resultant impacts of a global pandemic.
Something which none of us would have experienced before, and have been unable to give advice from our lived experiences to them. Research is starting to show us that they have sat with the greatest impacts during this period of time, not only from their own emotional challenges but from having taken on our anxieties, fears and frustrations.
It is important for us to remember that childhood is incredibly important, as it sets the blueprint and or framework to manage and engage with the challenges of later life. Children unlike adults seldom have the words to express their emotional challenges and often manifest these through behavioural difficulties. As such it is important for us to take these changes into account when trying to understand what they are attempting to communicate through their behaviour.
In saying this, it is important that we keep in mind that children make up part of a large and vulnerable population. As a result, South Africa has the Children’s Act (Act No.38 of 2005) which protects both the rights and interests of South African Children, and is only superseded by the South African Constitution. According to this legislation, we are all legally if not ethically obligate to report any concerns regarding children.
In an attempt to reduce the risk of exposure to abuse, violence, neglect and cycles of exploration while making reporting of this easier, the Department of Social Development has a 24-hour call centre dedicated to the protection of children 0800428428 or *120*7867# or 0800055555. If it takes a village to raise a child, it takes collective responsibility to raise them well, with safety and security.