Child Safety

UNIT 3

CHILD SAFETY

Learning Objectives

Childern will be able to:

* describe the importance of Childline.

* understand child safety.

* distinguish between safe touch and unsafe touch.

Father is reading the newspaper. While the son and daughter peeps into the paper and finds an advertisement of  ‘Childline - 1098‛.

Son : Dad, What does this Childline number mean?

Father : Childline number is a helpline number for children under the age of eigtheen.

Daughter : Oh! Do they help children in doing their homework?

Father : Ha, ha! No, dear. It helps children who are in need of help and care.

Son : I didn‛t know about this.

Father : Childline service was first established as a project in the year 1996. Later between 1998-99, Childline was established all across India under the Ministry of Women and Child development.

Son : It has been there for a very long time then.

Father : Yes! In May 2013, Childline in Ahmedabad rescued around 16 children who were working in various parts of the city. Child Labour is an offence in India.

Daughter : Oh! Is it?

Father : Childline helps children who

• are work as labourers.

• are abandoned by their parents.

• are differently abled.

• are live in streets.

Son : How do they exactly know where and how children need help?

LET US KNOW

Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) is a centrally sponsored scheme of government of India for early childhood care and development.

ACTIVITY

Let us do

Which is the safest way of travelling? Put (✔) or (✖) in the boxes.

Father : Childline number is 1098. One can call on this number and ask for help or inform if they find children who need help. 

The National Child Labour Projects (NCLPs) have been set up to rehabilitate child labour. The children identified by the NCLP are to be withdrawn from the dangerous occupations and put into special schools.

Son : Oh I understand now. A child‛s safety is very important.

Father : Well said, son. There are many laws to protect children.

Daughter : What are they?

Father : We have helplines and laws to support and protect children. But it is very important to teach children of how to be safe and aware of what‛s happening around them.

ACTIVITY

Let us write

Which is Safe touch / Unsafe touch?

Son : Oh, good to know.

Daughter : What are you going to teach us, Dad?

Father : I will teach you about Safe touch and unsafe touch.

Son : Tell me more about it.

Father : Hugs from family, or high-fives with your friends are all safe touch.

Daughter : What is unsafe touch, dad?

Father : It is unsafe when someone touches your chest, between your legs or lips or asks you to touch theirs.

Son : What about when I am not well and go for a check-up to a doctor?

Father : That‛s a very good question, dear. Doctors may touch these parts while they are doing a check-up and either me or your mother are in the same room.

Daughter : Okay, dad.

Father : If someone touches you unsafely they might scare you to keep it as a secret. They might get you gifts that you don‛t tell anyone. But remember dear, you must always inform me or your mother about it.

Son : Yes, I will definitely i nform you or mom.

LET US KNOW

The Indian Penal Code 1860, punishes people who involve in child trafficking. There is also The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, that prevents child marriages.

The Ministry of Women and Child Development has placed the draft National Policy on Child Protection. It aims at providing a safe environment for all children.

Father : If you are ever touched on any of these parts of your body by someone you know or someone in the family, then you must inform your teacher or another family member.

Son and Daughter: Sure, Dad. We will definitely inform if something like this happens. Thank you for talking to us about this.

Father : Don‛t thank me because it is every parents‛ and teachers‛ duty to talk to children about this. It will help you be safe and happy.

Glossary

Labour : Heavy physical work

Prohibition : Refusal to approve

Rescue : Save from danger

Recap

* Childline helps children who are in need of care and protection.

* Childline was first established as a project in the year 1996.

* Childline helps children under the age of eigtheen who work as labourers.

* Hugs from family, or high-fives with friends are all safe touch.

* If someone touches chest, between your legs or lips of your body is unsafe touch.