This festive season, Childline Gauteng cautioned children to be well acquainted with online safety.
Resource mobiliser for Childline, Jolene Beyleveld said with social media, peer pressure, and the pressure to have hundreds of ‘friends’ and followers, it’s easy to forget what true friendship is.
“Social media uses the word ‘friend’ in a totally different way – the word ‘friend’ on social media doesn’t always refer to someone you know well, trust, respect, share with, and support,” Beyleveld said.
She added that on social media there are people who might be lying about who they really are.“The best way to determine who your real friends are is to remember that friends are the people you like, respect, care for, have fun with, share things with, and support, and who do the very same for you. You don’t have to have lots of friends. The most important thing is to have genuine friends,” Beyleveld advised.
Director of Childline Lynne Cawood added the following tips:
- Keep youselves and your child safe this festive season
- Follow all Covid-19 safety measures
- Celebrate the holidays with your loved ones in small groups with limited alcohol
- Listen to the little ones and be open to talking to them about everything
- Know where your children are at all times
- Be mindful that 80% of abuse is committed by known and trusted people
- Teach children to trust their instincts
- Talk about safety measures – run, yell and tell
- Teach children your telephone number and all emergency numbers
- Look out for the vulnerable in your community and let them know you care.
Childline’s main needs this festive season are:
- monetary donations
- non-perishable food items
- back to school stationery
- clothing of all sizes
- toiletries
- solar lights
- uninterruptable power supply (UPS) systems.
Beyleveld concluded, “Our helpline is open seven days a week, 24 hours a day, even during the festive season – both children and parents are welcome to call to report abuse, to ask for information, or just to talk to someone. Call us on 116. We wish you and your loved ones, health, happiness, peace and prosperity this festive season.”
Details: If you would like to make monetary donations to Childline, visit www.childlinegauteng.co.za/donate
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