As Trinidad and Tobago’s school holidays commence, the Children’s Authority has issued crucial guidance to parents and guardians, emphasizing the continued importance of child safety protocols during the festive period. Executive Director Sheldon Cyrus delivered a stark reminder on December 11th that parental responsibilities must remain paramount despite seasonal distractions.
Statistical data from the Authority reveals neglect persists as the most frequently reported form of child maltreatment, with parental inattention creating dangerous vulnerabilities. Cyrus specifically warned against the provision of alcohol to minors, noting its capacity to impair judgment and increase susceptibility to predators.
The Authority’s comprehensive recommendations include ensuring children receive balanced periods of rest and recreation during holiday cleaning activities, establishing clear behavioral expectations before social gatherings, and educating youth about bodily autonomy and consent. Children should be empowered to decline unwanted physical contact, even from relatives.
Crucial safety protocols emphasize teaching children about appropriate versus inappropriate touching, monitoring digital activities, reinforcing road safety principles, and instructing children to refuse gifts from strangers. The Authority stressed that every citizen shares responsibility for child protection, urging immediate reporting of suspected abuse to emergency services (999) or their dedicated hotline (996).
Additional preparedness measures include ensuring children memorize their full names, ages, parental contact information, home addresses, and identifying trusted adults to approach if lost during holiday excursions.