Protecting children is everyone’s business
During Child Protection Week (September 3-9) I get the opportunity to visit a few of the kindergartens in the Mackay area to speak to the children about how to keep safe, feel happy and who they can talk to you if they are ever feeling unsure about what is going on around them.
At this age just before they head off to the big world of Prep, it is nice for them to meet a police officer and know that as part of our role we want the children to see how the police can be friendly and are there to help them – and for the rest of the year I continue to visit our centres.
To make the children smile, laugh and learn is definitely one of the most rewarding and positive aspects of my policing job.
I also get to read my favourite book to them – can you see it in the photograph? This book is a great way to interact with them and then deliver the key simple messages about how they feel in different situations, that their body will react to let them know how they feel, and if they do feel this way that there are trusted adults who will listen and help them.
It is great to see the children smile when they get to try on the police hats and then ask who is going to be a police officer, ballerina or a superhero when they grow up !
#whoRUprotectingmackay?
Mackay Kindergarten & Preschool
South Mackay Kindergarten
Source: Mackay Crime Alert
