A terrible thing happened; I grew up.
Debatable, I know! Doesn’t everyone still hold a penchant for being a kid again? Through rose-tinted specs many of us fondly recall our childhood, and forget how, actually, growing up is psychologically challenging, frustrating at times, even if you had what you’d consider a good childhood. Why oh why some attempt to make it worse for children, is something beyond fathoming.
I hope to get my article about the sate of local playgrounds published later today, for I see it’s Child Exploitation Awareness Day. Partly relevant, I ponder, to our children’s wellbeing, and something often overlooked by the powers that be, the sheer joy and also dexterity and health of our youngest of going to the park.
The National Child Exploitation Awareness Day aims to highlight issues surrounding CE; encouraging everyone to think, spot and speak out against abuse and adopt a zero tolerance to adults developing inappropriate relationships with children, or children exploiting and abusing their peers.
Therefore, I’m pleased to hear Devizes Police has acted, and officers from the Neighbourhood Policing Team will be out and about today spreading awareness on Child exploitation.
“If something doesn’t feel right,” they say, “it may not be. Young people can be exploited anywhere and may be most visible in public places.”
If you are concerned about a child, please dial 999 or 101 if it’s not an emergency.
And for my personal opinion section I say it’s seriously counterproductive to adopt the “my dad smacked me and it never did me no harm….” attitude. I have to ask, really? Sure, aside spouting double-negatives, it didn’t make you a tad selfish and ignorant, inconsiderate to those who it may’ve affected?
For the taboo ethos of my youthful era paved the way for a plethora of the utterly sickest offenders ever to grace our planet, and allowed them to sneak under a non-existent radar to become trusted representatives, even renowned celebrities on Children’s television shows.
So, please help promote this awareness with the hastags #HelpingHands #CEADay22
devizine.com 