Safety and Security
To reach their full potential, children need the five inter-related and indivisible components of nurturing care: good health, adequate nutrition, safety and security, responsive caregiving and opportunities for learning. In the first years of life, parents, intimate family members, and caregivers are the closest to the young child and, thus, the best providers of nurturing care. This is why secure family environments are important for young children. In order to provide caregivers with time and resources to provide nurturing care, policies, services and community supports need to be in place. This page focuses on the "Safety and Security" component of the Nurturing Care Framework.
Definition
Refers to safe and secure environments for children and their families. It addresses physical dangers, emotional stress, environmental risks, and access to food and water. To feel secure and safe, young children need: access to nutritious food; access to clean water and sanitation; clean indoor and outdoor air; good hygiene; safe spaces to play; protection from physical punishment, mental or emotional abuse, and neglect. Risks to children include extreme poverty, financial hardship, air pollution, toxic chemicals, unsafe play environments, lack of internet/online safety, harsh punishment, and violence. Social and child protection services are critical, securing financial and other support for the most vulnerable households. Other services and community networks also help to prevent and detect maltreatment and create safe communities.
Guiding questions and considerations
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