Just like adults, some youngsters are able to control their conflicting temptations and some are not. Cases of children losing their lives to bullying and molestation by minors are increasing. Some reasons which could be playing a big role are communication gap between parents and children, suppressing or avoiding a child’s plead for help, drug and alcohol abuse, lack of knowledge regarding the consequences of one’s actions, seeing mistreatment of women at home, getting influenced and pressured by friends, lack of morals, lack of respect for another living being, watching porn and violence in very young age,etc.

We cannot keep an eye on them day and night and we should not. However, if we notice our children with people with suspicious behaviours, or our child starts acting suspicious or different then this calls for a direct and open conversation before it is too late. We have to be aware of who are our child’s friends, what are they watching on phone, ask them clearly if they are watching adult material, do they have any friends who are engaging in illicit behaviours, have they been engaging in any illicit activities, or are they having temptations which they feel are difficult to control. If we don’t ask then how will we guide them. The change has to start from us, parents. The need for open and direct conversations was never this high. We talk about safe and unsafe touch with kids, but now there is a need for another conversation. A conversation which discusses about learning to chose to do the right thing, learning to control temptations which can hurt another child, learning to respect another human being, learning that there are consequences for their actions which can change their and another child’s life forever. If needed reach out to a professional or call child helpline 1098.

Shipra Lamba
Psychologist