Spend time with children on the apps and games they use, and make it easy for them to tell a trusted adult when something worries them. That was one practical message for Hawkesbury families at a child protection information evening hosted by Caring 4 Kids Kindergarten.
Parents from Caring 4 Kids Redbank joined educators from all three of the provider’s centres to discuss what adults can do to keep children safe at home, online and in early learning settings, including when a child struggles to explain what happened.
Caring 4 Kids wellbeing facilitator and counsellor Tiff Bassett opened the evening with a talk on online grooming, the lasting effects of childhood adversity and the role adults can play by acting early. She encouraged parents to get familiar with the games and apps their children use so conversations about what happens online can become part of everyday life.
Guest speaker Melanie Jai, a child protection advocate and author, drew on her lived experience to explain why children can find it difficult to ask for help. Her illustrated picture book, Little Lionheart, helps families and educators start conversations about body boundaries and introduces a signal children can use when words are hard to find. The book is available through Brave Not Broken.
Caring 4 Kids educator Josephine “Jo” De Guzman hosted the evening, which included a short video showing how educators build safety into everyday care. De Guzman, Bassett and Jai closed the session by answering questions submitted by parents.
Hawkesbury MP Robyn Preston attended. Federal Member for Macquarie Susan Templeman sent her apologies.
Caring 4 Kids said it received positive feedback and is considering a follow-up session in the first three months of 2027, giving local families and educators another opportunity to ask questions and share what has worked for them.
