Berhati-hati dengan BONJELA

DOCTORS are calling for mandatory warnings on teething gels after children were hospitalised with potentially life-threatening poisoning.

The authors of a study conducted by two Sydney hospitals and two New Zealand hospitals, published in the Medical Journal of Australia, found that chronic salicylate intoxication could occur in children using over-the-counter teething gels, even at intakes close to the recommended doses.

Symptoms of such poisonings include gastrointestinal problems, hyperventilation, tremor and memory lapses, and the risk of death.

In Britain, the ingredient salicylate was removed from Bonjela teething gel after a 2002 study by the Commission on Human Medicines.

In Australia and New Zealand, several teething gels marketed to infants, including Bonjela, still contain salicylate and do not have warning labels.


Related Coverage

• Too many bottles will rot baby teeth Adelaide Now, 9 days ago
• Letters: Bottle feeding won't rot teeth The Daily Telegraph, 10 days ago
• Top hospital urges end to bottle-feeding The Daily Telegraph, 5 Feb 2011
• Bid to banish bottles an over-reaction The Daily Telegraph,5 Feb 2011
• Rudd in hospital after flood mishap Herald Sun, 14 Jan 2011

Some products recommend applying as much as a third of a tube every 24 hours, which the study's authors say equates to more than two 15g tubes a week.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) considers teething gels to be therapeutic products, so the study's authors, including Sydney Children's Hospital pediatric intensivist Gary Williams and Prince of Wales Hospital consultant pediatrician Caroline Meadows, recommend that they be subject to the requirements of other over-the-counter medication, such as aspirin, and include warnings.

Dr Williams said parents should not assume that just because teething gels were marketed to children and available over the counter, they were perfectly safe.

"Teething can be disruptive and there is no doubting that ... but here is a commonly used solution that is widely thought of as being completely benign and one needs to be aware that that is not necessarily the case and that there is a safety issue here," Dr Williams said.

He said that parents would be better off using teething rings that had been cooled in the fridge as there was no scientific evidence of any beneficial effect of salicylate.

A spokeswoman for the NSW Poisons Information Centre, based at The Children's Hospital at Westmead, said calls to the centre in relation to teething gels were either about children who had accidentally ingested the contents of a tube, or parents who had used the product on children younger than the recommended age.

Two children had been referred to hospitals after calls to the centre's hotline last year, she said.

A TGA spokeswoman said the authority would consider extra warnings on the gels.

"Parents and carers are reminded to always use the product according to product instructions," she said.

In 2009, the TGA investigated links between the use of teething gels containing salicylate and Reye's syndrome, a potentially fatal disease that causes fatty liver and brain damage, after a study was published in the British Medical Journal.

The investigation found the study case was more likely a result of salicylate intoxication than Reye's syndrome.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/teething-gel-danger-for-infants/story-fn6bm90q-1226005032121

Info produk Bonjela di Malaysia dari laman web Biro Pengawalan Farmaseutikal Kebangsaan... Ia mengandungi salicylate

Product Detail Information for MAL19910207X
Product Information : Product Name : BONJELA Holder Name : RECKITT BENCKISER (M) SDN. BHD. Address : LEVEL 5, MENARA UAC NO. 12, JALAN PJU 7/5 MUTIARA DAMANSARA : 47800 : PETALING JAYA : SELANGOR : MALAYSIA Manufacturer Name : RECKITT BENCKISER HEALTHCARE (UK) LTD Address : DANSOM LANE, EAST YORKSHIRE, HULL HU8 7DS, : UNITED KINGDOM
Ingredients Information : No. Substance Name 1 CETALKONIUM CHLORIDE 2 CHOLINE SALICYLATE

How do you teach your children?

Yale law Professor and self-described 'tiger mother' Amy Chua provoked international debate when her book 'Battle Hymm of the Tiger Mother' was published recently. The Chinese-American was called nuts, a despot and a monster for her extreme parenting methods, which among others involved calling her daughters 'garbage' and hours of Mathematics and spelling drills. Sonia Ramachandran and Chandra Devi Renganayar find out if tiger parenting is the way to raise cubs that will rule the world

Datuk Farshila Emran, managing director:

One of my daughter's teachers told her that she had better be careful because the discipline teacher was a "tiger".

My daughter replied, "She may be a tiger but my mum is a lion."

I have three children. When my eldest daughter Khalesa was slightly over a year old, I sent her to play school. She cried the first two days and I gave in. When she cried on the third day, I slapped her in front of the teacher.

My action shocked Khalesa and she immediately stopped crying. That was when I realised that the soft approach does not work.

If any one of my children is rude, I will slap them no matter where they are. I don't care if they are embarrassed.

Some parents do not want to take action immediately when their children misbehave. They prefer to do so in private. But if you take action later in the day, the child might have forgotten what she did.

My youngest daughter, Lubna, wanted to accompany me out one day but her brother Mukhlis was not allowed to do so.

She turned to her brother and said, "Na na na na neh! You can't come with us." I immediately slapped her.

When she asked me why, I told her it was because she was rude to her brother. Children are not mature. If you slap, pinch or cane them, they know they have done something wrong.

If you use the soft approach by explaining to them what they did wrong, they might not understand. I once caned my daughter because she did not complete her homework. It is for her own good.

I told her that the moment I receive anything from her school telling me she had not completed her homework, I would slap her in front of the school assembly. I have to put fear in them, otherwise they will not know I'm the boss.

My husband, Dr Mohd Sharif Abu Hassan, is not strict.

If I shout at the children and he comes out of his room, I will look at him and he will immediately return to his room.

I never, however, use harsh words on my children.

Children will forget the pain of a beating but they will not forget the pain caused by harsh words.

For example, if your mother hit or pinched you when you were young, would you still feel the pain now?

Of course not. But if your mum had called you 'garbage' when you were younger, won't you still remember that?

Once, my daughter's piano teacher came to the house to give her lessons. She was sleepy, so she just banged on the piano. I went over and slapped her and she immediately woke up.

Then I told her why I slapped her in front of the teacher.

I explained that the piano teacher had travelled all the way to our home to teach her so that she could earn a living.

I told them I don't care if I beat them in front of their friends because their friends are not going to be there when they're in trouble. I told them they should be proud that their mother cares about them, looks at their homework and hires tuition teachers for them instead of saving that money for make-up, etc.

Nobody can nurture them better than their own mother. We are 'tiger' but we are not "tiger gila". (mad tiger).

My children are allowed to go to the playground in front of the house on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

On other days, they will just look at the other children playing but will not dare to ask if they can go out.

Khalesa always comes first in class.

If she is performing on stage (Khalesa is in the Permata Seni Choir), I send a professional make-up artist to do her make-up and if she goes outstation, I put her, together with her friends, in one of the better hotels.

I make sure Khalesa studies five hours every day. She has a packed schedule every single school day with a maximum of 30 minutes gap between activities.

Besides tuition, there are classes for mengaji (reading of the Quran), Bahasa Malaysia, vocal training, creative writing by a tutor whose mother tongue is English, art, piano, as well as sight reading. She also has English classes at the British Council on Saturdays.

I know Khalesa's capability and I know she can achieve 100 per cent in her examinations. So, if she comes home with 96 per cent, she would be afraid to enter the house to face me. I will evaluate the questions and if the mistake is due to carelessness, I will spank her.

Lubna, who is 5, has a teacher who comes over every day for three hours to teach her living skills, storytelling and to help her with her homework. She also goes to the British Council for English classes during the weekends and to the gym for classes three times a week to lose weight.

People have criticised the way I handle my children but I told them that these are my children and I will do what I like. My husband respects the way I do things. Although he does sometimes think I am too harsh, he understands that I am not doing it for fun.

When I beat, I really beat. I do feel bad about it later and cry in the shower. However, I never show them I am upset.


Dr Leow Mei Ling, housewife:

My only daughter, Emma Ooi, is 13 this year. She is a straight-A student as well as a gymnast who is gearing up for the Commonwealth Games in 2014.

Her Mathematics capabilities are that of a 17-year-old. She can also play the piano and speak Latin. Emma is also a fantastic chess player and has represented her school.

I believe discipline is necessary for a child to have a disciplined outlook in life, whether in sports or education. This is the kind of training I gave her from the time she was a toddler. I insisted she has her own table and chair from the time she could sit. I don't believe in children running around the house.

I quit my job when she was born and I drive her to all her classes and activities.

Emma's schedule is packed, straight from the moment she wakes up to the time she goes to bed, with no time for television, play or anything else.

Her day begins at 6am, with preparations for school. She leaves school at 2pm to go for gymnastics training, where she is in the national team. That ends at 6pm.

Then it's home, dinner, homework and bed. This is her routine seven days a week, with music and Latin classes squeezed in as well.

Emma is also not allowed to sleep late and is up by 8.30am.

She started kindergarten at 4 and was enrolled in the Shichida Right Brain Training Method, developed by Professor Makoto Shichida.

I also monitor her diet strictly. I restrict fatty foods and salt.

My husband (Ooi Khean Min) agrees with me and feels that a rigid and regimented schedule equips a child with the tools for the future as it teaches them to multi-task.

If you don't guide your children, they will not know what to do with their time. I would rather Emma play chess than watch television for hours during her free time.

I think watching television is a waste of time. I would not allow her to go to the playground to indulge in normal play as it is not safe.

I do not believe in harsh words or caning.

I don't feel that I am depriving her of a normal childhood. Play is doing something you enjoy.

I feel she enjoys this. Otherwise, she would not have been able to survive this long.

I don't think I'm a tiger mum but I believe there should be discipline.


Faridah Hamzah, housewife:

I have been labelled a very fierce mother by my family members and friends but I won't change my ways in bringing up my two daughters. I have to be strict to bring out the best in them. It is to ensure that they have a better future.

I cannot start to structure them when they are older, can I?

My 14-year-old daughter, Fatin Zakirah, is a national gymnast and she is training for the Commonwealth Games. Her school teacher introduced her to gymrama when she was 7.

Since she liked it, I decided to push her to excel in the sports. Her 10-year-old sister is interested in singing, so I enrolled her for choir training.

My girls are talented and I want to show them the right path to improve their lives and be successful. I believe you can only achieve results if there is discipline and order at all times.

Their daily routine starts at 6am on weekdays and on weekends, it begins at 7am. Their days are occupied with school, religious classes and training sessions.

Their daily schedule primarily involves studying and training. Yes, there is television time but it's very limited. There is also not much time for computer games or hanging out with friends.

I make sure they are in bed by 11pm after they have done their homework. Fatin has shown her frustrations about not being able to spend time with her friends. However, I have advised her about getting her priorities right. Now, she understands why she needs to focus and work hard.

Since she is with the national gymnastics team, her schedule is much more hectic compared to her sister's. The only time I allow her to play computer games is when I drive her for training daily.

I also control my children's diet, especially Fatin's. As a gymnast, she needs to maintain a lean physique to perform well in the sports. I don't buy or keep any other food in my refrigerator except for fruits and juices. Initially, I had to guide her but now Fatin has disciplined herself to eat the right food. To support and encourage her, I also follow a strict diet rule in the house -- no sweets, chocolates or chips.

My husband supports my approach in bringing up our daughters. Yes, I rule with an iron fist but that does not mean I don't show affection.

My style of parenting is injected with lots of love and words of advice.

I don't believe in using harsh words or degrading my children's efforts to make them better. I show appreciation every step of the way and it has borne fruit.


Read more: Confessions of tiger mothers http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/a13tigermother1a/Article/#ixzz1E0oCubBx

Be more aware of post-natal depression

MCA Public Service and Complaints Department chief Michael Chong has highlighted a very important area of mental health affecting women who have recently given birth (The Star, Jan 22).

Post-natal blues, where mothers experience spells of irritability followed by bouts of crying due to hormonal changes are fairly common but post-natal depression is more serious and requires treatment.

The symptoms of post-natal depression are more severe and prolonged. It is frequently undetected and untreated, resulting in devastating consequences.

It affects not only the woman experiencing it but also the family, in particular the newborn.

We are happy to note that the issue of early detection of post-natal depression was discussed at the recent Mental Health Promotion Advisory Council meeting (the Malaysian Mental Health Association being a member).

The council was informed of plans to strengthen training for front-line staff at community and health clinics, and also of putting a mechanism in place to ensure proper screening of post-natal mothers for any depressive illness.

In relation to this, the Health Ministry should consider including the topic of post-natal depression at its ante-natal classes.

As a large proportion of deliveries and post-natal care occur outside the ministry’s facilities, it is essential that private maternity homes and private hospitals also institute a similar mechanism.

Greater public awareness of depressive illness and mental illness in general as medical conditions will help those suffering from them seek early treatment.

DATIN DR ANG KIM TENG,
President,
Malaysian Mental Health Association.

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/1/26/focus/7868485&sec=focus

Duty of all to stop child abuse

2010/11/28
Hans Olsen

EARLIER this year, the life of a small child was cut short. She died from injuries to her brain, stomach and kidneys inflicted by an adult who was taking care of her, a person she should have been able to trust and depend on.
An autopsy conducted found cuts and bruises all over her body, believed to have resulted from previous instances of abuse. Her case was, and is, not an isolated incident.

According to 2008 statistics from the Welfare Department, the number of abuse cases is increasing and now, an average of seven children are abused in different ways every day in Malaysia.

But these figures are only based on reported incidents. Many more children are hidden behind these numbers and if they eventually get recorded, it may already be too late.

Can we prevent these abuses from happening at all? Yes, I believe we can. But to achieve this, everyone must regard child abuse as unacceptable and be prepared to take action and intervene.

In the case of this child, there were witnesses who saw her being abused close to her home. No one interfered. I can't believe that this was because they condoned what they saw. I think there is a widespread uncertainty about how to interpret what you see and how to act. Had these witnesses known how to act and be prepared to do it, the small Malaysian child may still be alive today.


There are mechanisms in place to support such action. Police and government agencies are trained to handle this kind of cases. An immediate report would have mobilised a team of law enforcers to save the child from further abuse and, in this case, death. Intervention depends on family members, neighbours and bystanders who have the knowledge and spirit to intervene and put a stop to the abuse before it is too late.

In line with the Convention on the Rights of the Child, Malaysia has introduced the Child Act 2001 to guarantee the protection for children. With this legislation, not only can abusers be held accountable for their actions, informers are guaranteed anonymity and protection by law.

Furthermore, Childline Malaysia, a civil society initiative, has collaborated with the government to set up the dedicated hotline, 15999, where the public, as well as children themselves, can call for advice or report abuse. It is crucial that people know and utilise these services, and that they feel they can make a difference.


We need to empower ourselves with knowledge about child abuse and what we can do as individuals or in groups to stop it. To provide an opportunity for this, Unicef has set up a dedicated website, www.uniteagainstabuse.my, where people can learn more about the issue and what to do to protect a child from abuse.

This website is part of the larger Get on Board campaign by Unicef to encourage people to break their silence and take responsibility for the children around them -- be it in their home and families or in their communities. We each have an important role to play.

The Get on Board campaign clearly recognises the challenges parents go through in raising children, and provides a link to special services provided by the government to help cope with the stresses of parenting.

Unicef also urges communities to provide support activities for parents to manage the stress they face. By focusing on efforts to stabilise families and provide support for healthy child development, we are collectively creating an environment around us that reduces the likelihood of child abuse.

Every child has the right to grow up in a safe environment and to be sheltered from all forms of abuse, be it physical, emotional, sexual or neglect. This environment is only possible when society unites around children's basic rights, openly confronting violence and defending their right to protection.

While the government is primarily accountable for translating the Convention on the Rights of the Child into reality, parents and other caregivers, like teachers, health workers, youth leaders as well as children themselves, have a crucial role to play every day to protect the rights of children.

Very young children who lack the capacity to report abuse, or older children who fear reprisals by perpetrators should be able to rely on the people around them to take action.

What we see in statistics of reported cases only tells us a small part of the truth about child abuse in Malaysia. We need to know more. Thorough research is needed to help the government establish benchmarks for measurement of child abuse.

Data from this research would also make it possible to monitor future trends in abusive behaviour towards children and society's attitude towards it. This kind of evidence-based intervention is equally important for individual interventions by family members and the community.

We cannot wait for more children to die or be scarred for life. Everyone must be ready to take action. The silence must be broken. I invite the people of Malaysia to get on board and unite against child abuse.

The writer is Unicef representative to Malaysia

http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/27hansomea/Article/

Read more: Duty of all to stop child abuse http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/27hansomea/Article/#ixzz16YpBkPi5

Sarawakian woman rescues lost child on bus

NOBLE DEED: Nur Asyikin receiving a letter of commendation from Abdul Rahim for rescuing the lost toddler

KUALA LUMPUR: If it was not for a mother-of-two, three-year-old Mohd Amin Rozi may have disappeared forever after boarding a bus alone on Wednesday morning with a milk bottle in hand.

Nur Asyikin Rufi became concerned when she noticed the boy looking lost and restless as he was constantly changing seats.

The Sarawakian, in her 40s, was sitting at the back of the bus and became suspicious when she saw a foreigner speaking to the boy.

"I did what any mother would have done," she said, walking forward to rescue the child. "The boy was unresponsive when I asked him questions. So, I called 999."

Nur Asyikin then got off at Jalan Tun Hussein and carried the boy to the police station, as advised over the phone. She also lodged a report after handing the child to police officers.

"I hope this is a serious lesson learnt by every parent as such young children are naive and vulnerable."

Expressing disappointment that no one aboard the bus tried to help Amin, she said: "We should also look out for other children around us."

The police took photographs of the boy before handing him over to the Welfare Department in Jalan Pahang. Copies of his photo were distributed at the Sri Sabah flats area, where the boy was seen waiting before boarding the bus.

At 5.30pm on Wednesday, a couple arrived at the Cheras district police station, claiming their grandchild had gone missing. The boy, whom they called Amin, had apparently been sleeping while the grandfather was washing his car.

Neither of them realised the boy had woken up and wandered off. Amin's mother also arrived at the police station later to retrieve her child, but police refused to release him until a DNA test was conducted.

When the test results confirmed the grandparents and mother were indeed related to the boy and the necessary documentation were produced, Cheras acting police chief Supt Abdul Rahim Hamzah Othman allowed the child to be reunited with his family yesterday.

"What happened here is typical curiosity of children at such an age. As adults, we should be more aware of their tendencies and look out for them," said Abdul Rahman, who gave a letter of commendation to Nur Asyikin yesterday.

It was learnt the bus driver was not aware of the boy's presence as Mohd Amin was hidden among the passengers when he boarded the bus. The bus had travelled 10km before he was noticed by Nur Asyikin.

Meanwhile, Bernama reported the boy was suffering from a hyperactive disorder. His mother, Norhaslinda Hashim, 23, said she was working when informed by her mother about her missing child at about 1pm.

Norhaslinda said she would try to keep a close watch on her son from now.

http://www.mmail.com.my/content/54869-sarawakian-woman-rescues-lost-child-bus
THASHA JAYAMANOGARAN
Friday, November 12th, 2010 04:51:00

Pantau anak marah

KUALA LUMPUR: Ibu bapa harus memainkan peranan penting untuk menyekat pendedahan terhadap keganasan sama ada menerusi televisyen, video dan Internet yang boleh mempengaruhi perilaku anak mereka.

Pakar psikologi Universiti Teknologi Mara, Prof Dr Amelia Abd Aziz berkata, remaja sememangnya mudah terpengaruh dengan apa yang mereka lihat dan dengar serta akan mengaplikasikan perilaku itu apabila berdepan perkara yang membuat mereka marah.

“Baik remaja mahupun orang dewasa, apabila diselubungi perasaan marah, mereka akan bertindak di luar pemikiran waras sehingga melakukan sesuatu yang buruk tanpa sedar.

“Mereka sedikit sebanyak akan mengikuti perlakuan yang pernah dilihat sebelum ini,” katanya.

Beliau mengulas muka depan akhbar ini semalam yang melaporkan kejadian remaja berusia 14 tahun mati akibat terkena serpihan kaca yang diacukan oleh kakaknya selepas pertengkaran berebutkan alat kawalan jauh televisyen.

Menurutnya, mungkin suspek tidak berniat membunuh mangsa namun apabila berada dalam keadaan marah dan tertekan, dia terdorong untuk bertindak sedemikian.

Katanya, pertengkaran yang berlaku sehingga terjadinya cabar mencabar juga mungkin menyentap kesabaran suspek sehingga bertindak mengacukan serpihan kaca kepada mangsa.

“Keupayaan untuk mengawal kemarahan adalah penting supaya mereka dapat mengendalikan emosi dengan baik.

“Justeru, ibu bapa perlu memahami perilaku anak mereka dan perubahan yang berlaku terhadap tingkah laku mereka perlu dipantau,” katanya.

http://www.hmetro.com.my/articles/Pantauanakmarah/Article

More women giving birth after 40

When it comes to changing diapers, breastfeeding and swaddling, 40 is the new 30.

A recent national report found birth rates falling in virtually every age group of women in their childbearing years — except for those between 40 and 50. The group aged 40 to 44 had its largest birth rate since 1967.

Benefiting from improvements in reproductive technology and the fact that most Americans are living longer, more women 40 and over are choosing to have children in later life, particularly after they've accomplished career goals.

That means that as the nation celebrates Mother's Day, over-40 moms are still scheduling visits with the pediatrician while some their age have become grandmothers. Yet several local over-40 moms said they'd have it no other way; the births come when they're more settled, selfless and focused on family.

Pukul anak biar berpada

KUALA LUMPUR: Ibu bapa masih mempunyai pelbagai pilihan mendidik anak termasuk memukul, namun tindakan itu tidak boleh keterlaluan sehingga mendatangkan kecederaan dan boleh diklasifikasikan sebagai penderaan.

Peguam Kanan Persekutuan Seksyen Syariah, Jabatan Peguam Negara, Mahamad Naser Disa, berkata ibu bapa perlu bijak mendidik anak bukannya mengikut emosi dan panas baran.

Menurutnya, memukul anak secara keterlaluan dan mendatangkan kecederaan boleh mengakibatkan ibu bapa terbabit didakwa dan dikenakan tindakan undang-undang.

No milk, please: The lowdown on feeding newborns cow’s milk.

MANY Malaysian mothers do not breastfeed their newborn babies. The babies are given bottled milk at birth or within a few months after birth. The bottled milk is usually derived from cow’s milk which comprises protein, fat, sugar, vitamins and minerals mixed with water. Some babies are allergic to the proteins in cow’s milk. This occurs despite the efforts of the milk manufacturers to produce bottled milk that is as close to mother’s breast milk as possible.

It is generally accepted that about 1% to 5% of infants are allergic to the proteins in cow’s milk and its various formulations.

Letter: Daughters are a parent’s assets

EVERY mother, I guess, would hope to have a daughter primarily due to the belief that daughters would take care of their parents better.

I don’t really know how true that is.

I come from a small family and have two brothers. Being the only girl, I’m the one closest to my mum and I was my Dad’s girl when he was alive. However, my elder brother is the favourite of my parents and the younger one, as usual, is treated as the bongsu (youngest child).

My brothers and I are now in our 50s and have our own families. My elder brother migrated to the West with my mum after my father passed away. I migrated to Malaysia because of marriage and my younger brother stayed back in our home country.

At first, it was difficult for my mother to overcome her longing for her children because we couldn’t all be together to see her regularly due to financial constraints. I communicate with her through letters and phone calls. I had the opportunity to visit her in 1997 (after eight years) and then again in 2008. She managed to be reunited with my younger brother after 15 years.

Ibu Mithali (Cerpen)

PENERIMA ketiga berjalan perlahan-lahan turun dari pentas. Di lehernya, telah terkalung pingat "Ibu Misali". Tangan kanannya menggenggam erat satu sampul dan segulung sijil. Tangan kirinya pula memegang beberapa hadiah iringan.

Anaknya setia melangkah di sisi."Sekarang ...," suara pengacara majlis bergema kembali, "Tibalah kita kepada penerima anugerah "Ibu Misali" yang terakhir. Penerima ini agak lain daripada yang lain dan sungguh istimewa. Untuk itu, dipersilakan Puan Afifah Rashid naik ke pentas bersama- sama Cik Nurul Humairah, untuk tampil memperkenalkan ibunya. Dipersilakan. "Mataku tercari-cari pasangan ibu dan anak yang bakal mengambil tempat itu. Di barisan penonton paling hadapan, aku dapati seorang anak gadis berkulit hitam manis dan bertubuh tinggi lampai, sedang berusaha memujuk seorang wanita dalam lingkungan usia 60-an untuk bangun.

Just a mum?

A woman, renewing her driver's licence was asked by the woman at Registry to state her occupation.

She hesitated, uncertain how to classify herself.

'What I mean is, ' explained the woman at Registry, 'do you have a job or are you just a ...?'

'Of course I have a job,' snapped the woman. 'I'm a Mum .'

'We don't list ' Mum ' as an occupation, 'housewife' covers it,' said the recorder emphatically.

I forgot all about her story until one day I found myself in the same situation.

Kindy safety

Kindy safety
By PRIYA KULASAGARAN
educate@thestar.com.my

It is impossible to live in a state of fear, but early childhood education providers are taking greater precautionary measures to keep their premises safe.

IT is unfortunate that certain issues only seem to merit serious widespread attention after a tragedy occurs.

The recent horrific attack on three children at Tadika Sinario in Muar, Johor has sparked questions on just how safe children are in their schooling environment.

A man armed with a hammer had barged into the kindergarten and bludgeoned three six-year-olds, after attacking the kindergarten operator who was present.

While the pupils survived the ordeal, the violent episode has only worried parents abouthow they can protect their children from it.

Johor State Women, Family, Health and Community Development Committee chairman Dr Robia Kosai had earlier this week called for all kindergartens in the state to hire at least one security guard, while State police chief Deputy Comm Datuk Mohd Mokhtar Mohd Shariff urged for the installation of closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras.

But as an early childhood education provider in the Klang Valley quips, “No system is 100% foolproof. If some psychopath is bent on harming children, he will find a way to do so.”

Malaysian Association of Kindergartens chairman Jayawathi Perera thinks that in such unprecedented situations, parents and teachers should be careful to not play into knee-jerk solutions.

“While the Johor case was a brutal example of how twisted some individuals can be, this does not mean we should lock up our children in cages,” she says.

“We can’t live in a perpetual state of fear, because that will be equally damaging.

“The best measure is to be alert and vigilant all the time, to never let your guard down.”

She thinks that a blanket rule to enforce safety in kindergartens and preschools might not be entirely appropriate.

“The basic precautions aside, such locking up gates and employing security guards, each preschool is different and therefore each will have its own individual needs.

“This is where parents and teachers can work together in discussing the most effective solutions.”

Jayawathi adds that safety is a continuous community effort.

“We can’t just talk about the safety of children, as it also affects everyone in the neighbourhood. We need our communities to be close-knit and supportive to combat crimes like these.”

Angela Toh, the principal of Tadika and Taska Kinderland in Ipoh, says that many parents have voiced their concerns about her kindergarten’s safety precautions.

“We’ve already had in place plenty of security measures,” she says.

“This includes restricting who goes in and out of the compound and making sure that all pupils are escorted by a teacher during dismissal time.

“All our staff stay involved in maintaining the safety of the children.

“But of course, the parents’ worry is understandable, so we immediately responded by hiring a full-time security guard.”

Madeleine Kindergarten director Jeffrey Chew has even stricter procedures enforced at his kindergarten in Petaling Jaya, including CCTV cameras.

“We have one security guard each for the day and night shifts, and parents have to sign in to get a visitor’s pass before they can enter the premises,” he explains.

“If the parents don’t inform us that someone else will be picking up their children, we will not release them until we get clearance from the parents.

“Also, we have an intercom system that links all the classrooms to the main office, so that everyone will be immediately alerted if anything goes wrong.

“In the future, we hope to connect this intercom service to the nearby police station.”

He adds that he has yet to receive comments from parents questioning the safety of their children.

“This may be because before the semester begins, we request for parents to attend an orientation so that we can brief them on all our security measures.

“Having this sort of cooperation with the parents really helps us enforce our safety system.”

Parent Theva Rajendren agrees that parents should do their part to protect their children.

“Even so, this doesn’t absolve kindergarten operators from taking responsibility,” he says.

“We are entrusting our children in their care, so they should take every step necessary in ensuring their safety.

Lum Soon Heng meanwhile, is concerned by parents enrolling their children in what he deems to be “dodgy” nursery schools.

“It’s well and good to say that we must enforce security measures, but what if these kindergartens are illegal to begin with?” says the father of two toddlers.

“How will the authorities adequately monitor the security of these places when they are operating without a licence to begin with?”

Parent Fatimah Karim echoes this sentiment, but says that cost is an issue for a significant number of parents.

“Measures such as installing CCTVs and employing enough security guards will obviously be good, but are additional costs. Most parents will ultimately feel the pinch as it will be incorporated into the fees.

“I just hope that steps will be taken to ensure that every parent is able to send their children to a kindergarten or nursery that is safe.”

http://thestar.com.my/education/story.asp?file=/2010/3/21/education/5889217&sec=education