Teach your children their rights and responsibilities

Spokesperson for Honeydew Police Warrant Officer Karen Jacobs explained that although teaching children about their rights is important, she highlights that it is important for parents to teach children that every right comes with a responsibility.

I have the right to:

•  be taken seriously and the responsibility to listen to others.
•  privacy and the responsibility to respect other’s privacy.
•  quality medical care and the responsibility to take care of myself.
•  a good education and the responsibility to study and respect my teachers.
•  be loved and protected from harm and the responsibility to show others love and care.
•  own belongings and the responsibility to respect the belongings of others.
•  special care for special needs and the responsibility to be the best person I can be.
•  a say in my care, and any changes to how I am cared for and must take responsibility for my own actions.
•  make mistakes and the responsibility to learn from my mistakes.
•  be well fed and the responsibility not to waste food.
•  a safe and comfortable home and the responsibility to keep it neat and clean.
•  be proud of my heritage and beliefs and the responsibility to respect other’s origins and beliefs.
•  be told the house rules where I live and the responsibility to keep to them.
•  a lawyer in courtrooms and hearings affecting my future and the responsibility to be truthful.

Details: Honeydew Police Station 011 801 8400; Childline 0800 055 555.