Why Is Safety Important for Children?
How would you feel if strange men wandered across your yard every night? Or if you had to wander the savannah by yourself to find water? What if you didn’t know whether you’d be yelled at or left alone at home tonight?
All of those situations have one thing in common. They’re not safe. Safety exists in two main areas: physical and emotional safety. These play a pivotal role in the life of every individual, but they are especially important for children. As children develop, they are affected deeply by the people and world around them.
For orphans and vulnerable children, basic security isn’t guaranteed. Many children suffer from neglect, abuse, homelessness, and poverty. This threatens both their physical and emotional safety. When children are rescued and taken to a children’s home, they should be protected.
Through the Thrive Program, A Child’s Hope Foundation is working to help caregivers create secure places for children to live—a temporary step on their path to a permanent, loving home.
Physical Safety
Being physically protected is crucial for children. This matters wherever they are: at home, at school, or in the community. Here are a few tips to help children stay safe in all these locations.
Creating Physical Safety at Home
One of the key differences between a house and a “home” is safety. Keeping a physically secure environment also allows children to open up emotionally. Here are a few ways you can make your home a reliable place:
- Childproof any risky areas: Ensure heavy furniture is secured, electrical outlets and wires are covered, and sharp objects are out of reach. Read more tips from Safe Kids Worldwide.
- Establish consistent routines: A predictable structure is good for kids. If they know a parent/guardian will be there to pick them up from school or bedtime is at a certain time, it builds security.
- Follow food safety measures: No matter where you live, healthy food preparation and clean water are essential. Take precautions to make sure home-cooked meals are safe and healthy.
One children’s home in Nigeria prioritizes food safety. Before they started participating in the Thrive Program, their kitchen would fill with smoke when they cooked. Whoever was on dish duty ended up with terrible back pain from washing dishes in a tub on the ground. During the dry season, the taps are empty and the children have to go and fetch water at a borehole that serves the whole community.
During a Thrive Assessment, the home realized that there were improvements they could make. They decided they needed renovations to increase ventilation and install sinks to wash the dishes. They wanted to install a water tank too, so the children could have consistent and clean water.
The kids were so excited when the project was completed. They celebrated the new sink, saying their backs will have a rest, and they won’t have to go outside looking for water anymore. It was a huge relief that came through amazing donors.
Physical and Emotional Safety at School
The Fordham Institute states: “Feeling safe and valued is vital to a child’s development. Learning suffers when students fear for their safety, worry about being bullied, or don’t sense their teachers have high expectations for their success.” Encouraging a secure environment at school might include:
- Collaborating with teachers and staff to make sure your child feels supported and sure.
- Talking to your child about bullying (physical, verbal, and cyber).
- Looking into therapy and tutoring to help struggling children.
The United States government has additional resources to help build school safety. When caregivers and parents come together with teachers, children can look forward to attending school and experiencing a culture of secure learning.
Emmanuel’s story is a great example of teachers and caregivers coming together. When Emmanuel started school at age 9, his learning disabilities made him angry. He would throw violent tantrums and struggle to get along with his classmates.
His caregivers and teachers decided that the school he was at was not a good fit. Instead, they moved him to a specialized school that worked with him patiently to create a safe place for him to learn. Now, he has found a stable place in school. He can use a pencil correctly, understands time and space, and punctuates sentences correctly—all impossible just a few months ago.
Emmanuel is happier, speaks more in class, has good friends, and participates in art and sports-related activities. Creating a healthy environment for him to learn has propelled his growth.
Preparing Your Kids for the Future
Fostering a secure environment at home and school is essential for children to feel protected. But many children in institutional care don’t have the resources for that. When you become a monthly donor, you can provide needed emotional and physical safety to the kids who need it.