KINGSTON, Jamaica — As schools close for the summer holidays, the Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA) is encouraging parents and caregivers to take extra precautions to keep children safe while they enjoy the break from the classroom.

The agency is reminding families that while summer offers opportunities for recreation, travel and social activities, it also presents increased risks for children who are left unsupervised or whose online and offline activities are not closely monitored.

“The weeks ahead will require greater supervision and involvement to keep children safe from accidents, abuse, exploitation and other risks,” it said.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the CPFSA, Laurette Adams-Thomas, said keeping children safe during the summer begins with parents taking a proactive approach to supervision.

“Parents and caregivers should always know where their children are, who they are with and ensure they are properly supervised. These simple actions can go a long way in preventing children from becoming victims of abuse, neglect or exploitation,” she said.

Adams-Thomas stressed that as the summer break commences, parents need to place paramount importance on water safety.

“We recognise that this period sees a tragic number of preventable injuries and fatalities involving children near various aquatic environments such as beaches, rivers, pools and other bodies of water.  It is imperative that parents maintain constant and direct supervision for young children and ensure that older children are under the guidance of responsible adults at all times,” she said.

“Drowning often occurs silently and with extreme suddenness. Whether at the beach, a river or a pool, constant adult supervision is essential to protect our children. Diligence from adults is our most vital safeguard against such devastating occurrences,” Adams-Thomas added.

The CPFSA urged parents to be intentional about the people who interact with their children during the holidays, recognising their inherent susceptibility to exploitation.

“If your children are attending day camps, overnight camps or other organised activities, take the time to know the adults who will be responsible for their care. Likewise, if they wish to visit their friends, know who these friends are, speak directly with the parent or the responsible adult who will be supervising them and, whenever possible, arrange to drop them off and pick them up yourself. These simple conversations and precautions help to reduce opportunities for children to be abused, exploited or trafficked,” the CEO said.

Adams-Thomas also advised against children being left unsupervised at home while their parents are at work, warning that it presents an unobstructed pathway for perpetrators to exploit your child.

“On other occasions, there are cases where children are being monitored by their siblings who are also children. However, regardless of their age, a child lacks adult discernment, experience and knowledge base to recognise the subtle, manipulative tactics of a predator. Furthermore, an older sibling is also a minor and does not have the authority to intervene decisively, may be easily intimidated, or may be distracted, leaving both children vulnerable to exploitation,” she continued.

The agency also shared that protecting children requires parents to be just as engaged in their digital lives as they are in their physical lives. As such, parents are being encouraged to pay close attention to their children’s online activity.

It noted that parents should prioritise monitoring their children’s devices, reviewing privacy settings, enabling parental controls on electronic devices and televisions and talking regularly with their children about online safety.

Parents are also encouraged to be alert to warning signs such as sudden secrecy, unexplained gifts, changes in behaviour or requests to meet individuals whom they only know online.

“Children should know they can speak freely if something or someone makes them feel uncomfortable, whether online or in person. We must foster an environment where they are encouraged to trust their instincts and to immediately report a situation that doesn’t feel right to a trusted adult,” Adams-Thomas said.