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Tips for keeping children safe while practicing social distancing


This year, it has been an ill wind that brings us to April, Child Abuse Prevention Month. Lately, our concentration has been on the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic. While the disease seems to be of low risk to children, the risk of child abuse during times of stress and uncertainty is high. To say these are stressful times is woefully inadequate. We tune in to media coverage to see the total counts of those infected by county, state, nation, and country — and accompanying death tolls. We may be worried about our work status, financial difficulties, and struggling to find childcare. With social distancing, perhaps we feel at a loss without a support system in dealing with all these things.

Children too sense this stress and since they are not in school at this time, they may be home alone. Without dedicated professionals around them, who provided not only an education but also served as protectors — since they represent the largest group of hotline reporters — children are more vulnerable than ever. So we need to be more vigilant than ever and we need to do so in more creative ways.

While social distancing for health reasons, we can look to social platforms to stay connected with friends and family and to support each other. The options are abundant: You can call, text, Facetime, Skype, Zoom and instant message with each other throughout the day. If you are at work, you can check in randomly with children and let them know they can contact you, too. Remain calm and communicate with children, age-appropriately, about what is happening, and the safety measures you are taking to protect them. Remind them of your family safety rules, including online safety.

Refer to the basics of the Protecting God’s Children Program by reviewing “Step 1: Warning Signs of Inappropriate Behavior” and also by following “Step 4: Be Aware of Child and Youth Behavior.” Watch, listen to, and observe your children. Be a good neighbor when you can and do the same for the children of your friends and family. Enlist other trusted family and friends to check in on the kids electronically in some format.

Stay tuned to those needing comfort and reassurance. Share ideas and resources for family activities like requesting prayers and accessing Mass through links on the Miami archdiocesan website: www.miamiarch.org.

If you are at home due to social isolation, you will also find ideas for family activities like taking virtual tours of museums all over the world, building indoor forts, making puppets and putting on a show, writing letters to friends and family and including pictures and artwork. (Remember letters that get delivered through the U.S. Postal Service — sometimes referred to as snail mail? We have time now!)

Create fun art projects like making pinwheels and planting a pinwheel garden for your upcoming May flowerpots or box? A dozen pinwheels will look great in a vase. Or fill in a pinwheel coloring sheet. See the link below for instructions to make your own pinwheel and print out a fun coloring sheet.

Did you know that the pinwheel is the national symbol of child abuse prevention efforts? It represents the innocence, joy and fun which should be the experience of all children. All the more appropriate then, that this reminder to be ever vigilant in protecting children, especially during these extraordinary times, is literally blowin’ in the wind.

Editor's note: Click on the images to download the PDFs.


Comments from readers

Ivonne Magrans - 04/17/2020 08:47 AM
Dear Jan, thank you for all you do not only to “protect God’s children” but by continually keeping us appraised with valuable information and motivating us to be creative. During this difficult time let’s help family and friends see the positive things of the time they have to be with children and have some quality time to enjoy with them. As you mentioned technology can help and FaceTime has been very helpful as we visit and play games with children in the family no matter were they are. God bless us all during this difficult time and remember we can’t not go to church but the Lord wants to come to our homes,
Carmen MatosRaia - 04/16/2020 02:28 PM
God bless you now and always. Thanks for your guidance and dedication to this so important subject. Keep up the good work. Love
Elaine Benjamin - 04/16/2020 11:13 AM
A Blessed & Holy Easter to you Jan ! Thanks for providing us with the article. Most appreciated for your great service. Stay safe!
Ann-Marie Donnelly - 04/15/2020 03:02 PM
Happy Easter! Thank you for this important article, novina, and craft idea. It is much appreciated during this trying time.
Br. Lombardo D'Auria, O.F.M. Cap. - 04/15/2020 11:49 AM
Happy Easter and many blessings! Thanks for the article and the activities. Be blessed.
Eileen Dolan-Heitlinger - 04/15/2020 11:14 AM
Happy Easter! Thank you for this timely article and the helpful reminders. God bless us all in these challenging and stress-filled times.
Rosa E. Frometa - 04/14/2020 03:41 PM
Happy Easter Jan. Great article. Thank you.
Amy Cumming - 04/14/2020 03:10 PM
May those most vulnerable not be overlooked due to distractions during this challenging time
Gladys Jacobs - 04/14/2020 01:08 PM
Hi Jan, A happy and blessed Easter! Thanks for the information during this time. It will be emailed to all our families and catechists. Stay safe and well.
Elena M. Alvarez - 04/14/2020 12:33 PM
Happy Easter!! Thanks for the message in this time of uncertainty, for the Novena, Prayer of Healing and the pinwheel activity. Sheila Pena, our school receptionist, emailed to all of the employees.
Rose Eugene Jeanbaptiste - 04/14/2020 12:13 PM
Hi Jan and Happy Easter Season. Thanks for the article, the novena and for sharing the activities that we can pass onto the kids during this COVID-19 pandemic. They're really helpful.
Alicia Mendes - 04/14/2020 11:30 AM
Happy Easter, I will definitely be sharing this with our Parishioners and I am sending the pinwheel to our Religious Education students. Thank you for keeping us informed and for helping us to be conscientious about this issue.
Kat Pereda - 04/14/2020 11:08 AM
Happy Easter! We have forwarded the information to the Heads of Ministry. Thank you and God bless!
annie molleda - 04/14/2020 10:03 AM
Thank you for this information and good reminder. I will be sharing with my catechists,family and friends.
Josefina Vazquez - 04/14/2020 09:19 AM
Happy Easter Ms. Jan. Great article and we appreciate your excellent work!
Maria Elena Salazar - 04/13/2020 06:37 PM
I absolutely agree with Issa's comments of the importance of keeping close touch with our children and especially the elderly during these trying times. I will be sending this article to all my Assumption ministers and volunteers to sign up on Virtus online and read the bulletins, now that they are secluded in their homes and have time to peruse through them. Thank you, Jan.
Martha Betancourt - 04/13/2020 03:21 PM
Thank you Jan. Great article.
Karen Gioia - 04/13/2020 02:49 PM
Lots of good points in your article Jan. Sadly, as our world “stops” for this pandemic, predators & other criminals continue to commit their crimes. Good reminder for us not to allow ourselves to be lulled into thinking that child abuse would “stop” at this time also. May God bless us all in the various parts we play to help stop this horrific crime.
Mildred Ratcliffe - 04/13/2020 01:54 PM
A blessed and happy Easter week! Thank you for the information. I will surely start today the Novena for our little ones and most vulnerable. I didn't know that the pinwheel is the national symbol for child abuse prevention. Thank you for everything you do. Jesus Christ is risen, He is risen indeed! Alleluia! Mildred
Christine Williamson - 04/13/2020 01:39 PM
We at St. Joseph's learn a lot from your blog,in the constant struggle of keeping our children safe we must be creative, especially during this time. Thank you for all you do.
Issa Gaytan - 04/13/2020 12:38 PM
In this times of trouble, the article is a great way to remind us how imp[important is to keep in touch with our children and don't forget them when they are at the most vulnerable time of their lives. I will be sending this to all my catechists as well
Maria Barni Hopkins - 04/13/2020 12:05 PM
Happy Easter Jan. Thank you for the article and all you do!!!
Luz Lopez - 04/13/2020 11:39 AM
Great article. Thank. You for making us more aware in this difficult time
Fanny Garcia-Dubus - 04/13/2020 11:17 AM
Happy Easter! great article! definitely we need to pay more attention to our children now in these difficult times. there are great educational and entertaining documentaries in Disney plus, i would recommend it for the times when the children are on break. perhaps board games but if you are able to play ball with them so they can use the energy, even better! great opportunity to talk to your children, to pray together. God bless
Pat Solenski - 04/13/2020 10:09 AM
Thank you for the novena prayer, safety tips, and craft. Most of all thank you for your support and direction in these challenging times and throughout the year.

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