Forum: Take steps to safeguard our children’s emotional health
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I am writing in response to “ The day an 11-year-old did not come home from school
Like many parents, I stand in deep empathy with what Mr and Mrs Goh are graciously calling for: School staff to prioritise children’s physical and emotional safety.
Safety is a fundamental need that encompasses emotional safety, security, sense of belonging and acceptance. When children feel safe and valued, they can then become more engaged and ready to learn. They will also know they can reach out to the trusted adults around them.
Deep reviews and systemic changes to school practices during incidents will take time to effect. In the meantime, many children are still leaving school each day, hoping to be listened to, wondering if they have made the mark.
What are some immediate, actionable steps we can take to safeguard our children’s emotional health?
We can drop our need to control through compliance and discipline, and give a little more room for mutual respect, support and emotional safety.
We can learn to hear the children out, through their tears, disruptive behaviours, inaction and silence, and we need to remain alongside them in good and not so good times.
Lim Hwee San
