Protecting your child

Child protection and safe people in the community

Your children are likely to see people they do not know out in the community almost daily, for example, in the park, at the supermarket or walking down the street. These people are often referred to as strangers, and it’s worth noting that most strangers are regular, nice people. They just aren’t a part of your day-to-day lives, and they have their own friends, families, and priorities.  

It is helpful to understand the reasons children and young people may be at risk of significant harm, including: 

  • domestic and family violence 
  • physical, sexual and/or emotional abuse 
  • neglect. 

Young children often see the world in simple terms, thinking of people as either 'good' or 'bad'. A large majority (80%) of crimes against children are a product of the people they know rather than a stranger out in the community. As a parent, it is good to have a number of strategies to help protect your child when they may be vulnerable. 

For parents

  • stay alert - there are many distractions in today’s busy world, but nothing is more important than your child’s safety
  • always supervise your child out in public - if you need to step away, either take your child with you or notify another adult who you trust
  • when you arrive at a new location with your child, agree on a meeting point if either of you gets lost
  • allow your child to understand the boundaries of a new area and give them some responsibility of always needing o see you or another responsible, trusted adult at all times
  • always go to the bathroom with your child and wait with them
  • sit beside or very close to your child on public transport
  • explain to your child what physical touching is permitted by others and who those select few people may be. This includes location-based advice like at the doctor’s office with Mum and Dad or in the bath at home as a part of their regular practices.
  • take any discussion around child protection seriously from your child, regardless of how close you may be to the person being accused of something.

For children

  • if someone they do not know wants to talk to them or go somewhere else, tell your child to always check with a parent or trusted adult first.
  • teach them never to leave your set location with a person they do not know
  • if someone they do not know grabs them or touches them, give them the confidence to shout ‘Go away, I do not know you’
  • if they find themselves alone or lost, they should remain in a well-lit, busy area and seek help from an adult at a police station, a school, or from an adult who has children around the same age
  • teach your children to learn your address and phone number as soon as they are able to. 

The impact of domestic violence

Having a supportive family is always beneficial in raising a child. It is important to understand as a parent how much the home environment can affect a child’s life. The impact of violence, abuse or neglect on a child can include:

  • behavioural changes
  • learning or development difficulties
  • physical injuries
  • mental health conditions.

If you, someone you know or your child is experiencing any form of domestic violence, reach out to the NSW Domestic Violence Line (1800 656 463). You and your child have the right to be safe in all environments including the home.  

Smacking a child

Smacking is a form of physical punishment that involves using physical force to correct or discipline a child's behavior. This may include smacking, spanking, slapping, or hitting. Australian parents are unclear about what is seen as reasonable or acceptable force and over half believe it is never acceptable to use physical discipline with a child. 

Hitting or smacking a child is not the answer. It may stop a child from doing something in the short term, but they may not understand the underlying issue or the consequences of their behaviour.

What does the research say?

Research of over 1,500 studies suggests that physical punishment can have lasting negative impacts on a child including:

  • mental and emotional challenges 
  • lower cognitive ability (children who are smacked once a month have 14-19% smaller brains in the decision-making area) 
  • lower self-esteem 
  • more aggression and antisocial behaviour  
  • potential negative relationships with parents 

Harsh physical punishment during childhood can develop into further complications in adolescence and adulthood including:

  • anxiety
  • depression
  • substance use
  • partner violence.

Whilst not recommended, it remains lawful for parents in NSW to use ‘reasonable’ physical punishment to discipline their children. However, this excludes:

  • force to the child’s head or neck, and 
  • any harm that lasts longer than a short period.

Parents should consider other options before using physical punishment as a method of discipline. See the guidelines for more information.

If you find it difficult to respond to your child’s behaviour appropriately, or think you may hurt your child, support options are available. You should speak to your local doctor or psychologist. See Parent and carer wellbeing for more information.

However, it is illegal for physical punishment to be used by an early childcare or education provider staff member in NSW. Restrictive practices also fall under this law and are illegal unless the child has a detailed Behaviour Support Plan. 

"I was smacked and I turned out okay"

Every time a child is smacked, their risk of developing short or long-term problems increases. 

Current research offers a deeper understanding of how children learn and develop, highlighting the negative impact that hitting has on a child's health and wellbeing. 

 

Crying babies

Crying newborn babies can be an anxious and sometimes frustrating time for new parents. Understanding that crying patterns are a normal part of a baby's development can help parents manage their concerns and distress during this period.

Never shake a baby

Even though parents may be sleep-deprived, exhausted and frustrated when they can't settle a crying baby, shaking them is never OK. Shaking a baby can easily cause short and long-term health complications.

See Coping strategies for parents and carers and the Crying babies for more information on the Period of PURPLE Crying and understanding newborn crying patterns.

Online safety

In today’s rapidly advancing technological world, parents can often feel overwhelmed trying to understand and discuss online safety with their children.

Children face a number of potentially harmful issues that present themselves online including cyberbullying and exposure to inappropriate content like pornography or violence. Equipping yourself with the right tools and strategies as a parent can help foster a safe and secure online environment for your child. 

Whether consciously or accidentally, children may be exposed to upsetting or inappropriate material online or be contacted by people they do not know. Below are some tips to help your children stay safe online.

Provide open communication for online safety

While your child may not always share everything they do, establishing clear and open communication with them early on increases the likelihood of them reaching out with questions. 

Being non-judgmental and considering potential consequences when they come to you with questions can help foster a strong relationship with your child and prevent potential safety issues.

Educate yourself

As a parent, you might feel like you don’t know enough about the internet or social media platforms. Try to educate yourself where you can and ask your child to educate you about the things you might not understand. This builds trust both ways and can lead to conversations you may not have had with your child before. Don’t shy away from the discussion or ignore the issue. By knowing more about the platforms your child is using, you can help protect them online.

Educate your child

In the online world, just like in the real world, there are potential risks when interacting with people. While most people are online to have fun or connect with loved ones, some may try to obtain money, information, or share inappropriate content.

Teaching your children about the importance of strong password protection, the significance of changing their passwords regularly, and the risks of engaging with unknown individuals online can significantly reduce the likelihood of safety breaches.

While discussing safety online, it is a good opportunity to talk to your child about being respectful online. See Emerging topics- Bullying and Emerging topics - consent for more information.

Set clear parental controls on devices

As a parent, it's important to be aware of the potential risks associated with every device in your home or any device your child can access when they're away from home. You can set up parental controls for each specific device, your home WiFi networks, and streaming services by using software that's designed for family devices. Additionally, you can establish barriers for in-app purchasing. By doing so, you can block, filter, or monitor your child's online activities, prevent them from accessing adult or explicit content and protect them from phishing scams or overspending with linked credit or debit cards.

Encourage safe social media use

Most social media platforms, including Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and X, require users to be at least 13 years old. If your child is of this age or above, ensure they understand the implications and responsibility of sharing their photos and information online. Setting profiles to private and screening any friend requests can help minimise risks online.  

Teach your child about the risks of sharing personal information

It's important to educate children about the potential dangers of sharing photos, videos, or personal information online. These actions can lead to issues such as identity theft and loss of personal funds. Children should understand that anything shared online can become permanent, even if it is only shared with friends or for a brief period of time. This awareness can help them think before sharing anything online.

Encourage critical thinking online

No amount of parental monitoring can compare to educating your child on how to identify negative online content. If children can learn to question the information they see online, pause and think before taking any action, this can greatly improve their online safety. Remind your child that they can chat with you or ask any questions about anything they see online.

Know your child's friends and common contacts

It's important to know who your child is interacting with online so that you can encourage safe behavior and understand when and where you may need to intervene. Encourage your child to only interact with people they know in real life and explain the dangers of people pretending to be someone else online.

Know where to get help

If you are unsure about what to do or have questions about online safety, consider reaching out to friends and family for advice. If you don’t feel comfortable doing this, you can speak to a support person at Parent Line NSW or find more information on the eSafety website for the help you need.

If your child has been exposed to something that makes them feel uncomfortable, encourage them to seek support from a service such as Kids Helpline.

Evaluating health information online

Parents frequently turn to online information to understand their child’s health-related concerns and to navigate decision-making. However, with so much information online, it can be hard to determine if the information is correct and trustworthy. 

Half of the health-related searches completed online are on behalf of others, for example, the person’s child, parent, neighbour or other relative.

Finding information written online does not guarantee it is correct. The checklist below is a tool to help you find health information from a trustworthy source.

Checklist for online content- The CRAAP Test

C-Currency: When was the information published? Is it current or out of date?

R-Relevance: Does the information relate to the topic you are looking for? Who is the intended audience?

A-Authority: Who is the author? What are the author’s credentials to write on the topic?

A-Accuracy: Is the information supported by evidence? Can you verify the information from other reliable sources?

P-Purpose: Is the purpose of the information to inform/teach/sell/entertain? Are there biases in the information?

Publicly available information is often generic, meaning it is not specific to any one person’s health condition or situation. Websites should generally include a disclaimer stating that the information does not replace medical advice from a family doctor. 

Be cautious about websites that:

  • claim to fix health concerns with one simple step or cure
  • use language that is overly emotive
  • provide details of a payment plan
  • request personal information.

These websites are generally favourable towards the organisation itself and are subjective. 

Credible health information:

  • Your family doctor or pharmacist 
  • Health care phone services, for example:
    • HealthDirect (1800 022 222)
    • Poisons Information Centre (13 11 26)
    • Lifeline (13 11 14)
    • Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800)
  • Reliable health information websites, for example: