“Child, you must know how to protect yourself!” – A seemingly simple saying, yet it holds profound importance, especially in today’s world where children face numerous potential dangers.
Why are Self-Protection Skills Necessary for Children?
“A straight tree fears no crooked shadow,” this proverb implies that people need to equip themselves with knowledge and skills to overcome challenges. Similarly, in modern society, children need to be equipped with self-protection skills to prevent potential dangers, such as:
- School violence: According to statistics from Vietnam Education Newspaper, school violence incidents increased in 2022, causing significant concern for many parents.
- Kidnapping: Cases of child abduction and disappearance still occur frequently, causing public anxiety.
- Sexual assault: The sad reality is that children are increasingly becoming victims of sexual assault, causing widespread outrage.
Self-Protection Skills for Children: Knowledge and Confident Action
“Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated,” this proverb affirms the importance of mastering knowledge to cope with all situations. To help your beloved children protect themselves, parents need to equip them with the following skills:
1. Recognizing Danger
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- Teach children to recognize strangers: Children need to understand that not everyone is kind, and they should not trust strangers, even if they seem friendly.
- Recognize signs of danger: Teach your children to recognize unusual signs, such as: a stranger approaching too closely, acting strangely, or feeling uncomfortable in a certain place.
2. Handling Dangerous Situations
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- Teach children to call for help: Children need to know how to call for help when in danger, such as: calling parents, shouting loudly, or running to a crowded place.
- Self-defense skills: Teach your children simple self-defense moves, such as: kicking, punching, biting to fight back against an attacker. However, remember that this is only a last resort, and children should prioritize escaping danger.
3. Responding When Attacked
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- Teach children how to say “no” firmly: Children need to know how to refuse inappropriate requests or actions and not be afraid to say “no” to adults.
- Teach children how to resist: Teach children how to resist when attacked by: shouting loudly, running away, or seeking help.
Self-Protection Skills: A Journey Together
“Better to learn from a friend than from a teacher,” this proverb reminds us of the role of learning from each other. Self-protection skills are not something that can be learned once and then forgotten but need to be practiced regularly. Parents, please be patient and accompany your children on this journey, so that your beloved children are always confident and brave in facing all challenges.
Important Considerations
- Create a safe environment for your child and always be a trusted companion.
- Talk to your child about sex openly, helping them understand their bodies and how to protect themselves from sexual abuse.
- Monitor your child regularly, especially when they are alone or with strangers.
- Teach your child how to use electronic devices safely and limit their exposure to inappropriate content.
What to Do When a Child is in Danger?
- Stay calm: Try to remain calm to make sound decisions.
- Call emergency services: Contact authorities, such as the police or ambulance, for timely assistance.
- Provide information: Provide complete information about the situation, location, and identifying characteristics of the attacker so that authorities can quickly search for and rescue your child.
Conclusion
“Raise children, teach grandchildren, protect the country, protect the home,” this proverb affirms everyone’s responsibility to future generations. Self-protection skills are an extremely important asset to help children confidently and firmly face potential dangers in life. Spend time, dedication, and love to equip your children with the necessary knowledge and skills, so that your beloved children are always safe and happy.
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