Abu Dhabi: Following reports of tragic deaths of children through neglect, parents in the capital say they are keeping a closer eye on their children to ensure they are safe at all times.
And they are speaking out about what safety measures they are taking to ensure that such incidents do not occur in their homes.
Police have recently chronicled a series of disturbing tragedies where youngsters have plunged to their deaths from high-rise buildings, have burnt to death or suffocated in vehicles after being left in vehicles alone when their parents failed to take all the necessary precautions to prevent such calamities.
“A one-month-old was recently abducted after the vehicle he was left in [by parents] was stolen in Sharjah. Developing safety and prevention protocols as well as installing child-proof systems to protect children from falling [from high-rise buildings] are a part of initiatives that the Higher Committee for Child Protection at the Ministry of Interior is endeavouring to implement,” said police in a statement earlier.
Speaking to Gulf News, a Palestinian mother of one explained her regret over leaving her three-year-old with the nanny for prolonged periods while she completed her degree in higher education.
“I have noticed that my child used to really enjoy taking baths and swimming in pools but after a some time I noticed that he became fearful of those things. I can only assume that something bad had happened to him while he was doing these activities. I have many ways to ensure that such things do not happen again, as I have realised that nobody could ever care for a child like his mother and father,” Noor S. said.
The young mother had highlighted that children are prone to many risks during their daily lives and that the manner by which they learn right from wrong is imperative in building their future personality.
“I make it a point to not frequently shout at my child unless the situation is an emergency, such as him holding a knife. Otherwise, I have found that positive reinforcement works better, as in, I try to encourage him to eat his food and stay away from dangerous zones by rewarding him when he listens to me. That way he can look forward to things and he can learn that good behaviour generates favourable outcomes,” she added
Meanwhile, mothers who have more children to keep track of, have ensured that stricter measures are taken.
B.A., a mother of four girls, has revealed that she keeps her windows shut and all electric sockets clearly off limits.
“I made a big fuss over the electric sockets when my eldest was just a child. The precautions I now take have become somewhat of a routine and having my eldest learn the rules has made her try to teach her younger sisters the same things she knows. Still, sometimes my eyes and my daughter’s are not enough to make sure nothing goes wrong, so I keep a nanny with us at all times to ensure that no major mistakes happen,” the working mother said.
However, despite all the extra care, several incidents have taken place with B.A.’s daughters that have caused her major concerns.
“One time, one of the twins. at the age of two, fell and almost hurt herself seriously. Luckily, our neighbour is a doctor and was able to take care of the injury as soon as it happened,” she added.
Police are therefore always urging parents to not only remain watchful but to also refrain from relying on helping hands that are not family. “No one will stay watchful of your children like a mother would. Even nannies, who grow attached to the children, can one day just simply travel and never look back, which is what happened with me,” Noor said.
